The European Commission published on 26 May guidance on how the Code of Practice on Disinformation - the first of its kind worldwide - should be strengthened to become a more effective tool for countering disinformation.
Met dank overgenomen van Europese Commissie (EC), gepubliceerd op woensdag 26 mei 2021.
What is the Code of Practice on Disinformation?
The Code of Practice sets out principles and commitments for online platforms and the advertising sector to counter the spread of disinformation online in the EU, which its signatories agreed to implement. It is the world s first self-regulatory instrument to fight disinformation. The 2020 assessment of the Code showed that it is a good example of structured cooperation with online platforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability. It also identified shortcomings, including inconsistent and incomplete application across platforms and EU countries, gaps in the coverage of the Code s commitments which the Guidance to Strengthen the Code of Practice on Disinformation seeks to address.
Europe to press the adtech industry to help fight online disinformation
The European Union plans to beef up its response to online disinformation, with the Commission saying today it will step up efforts to combat harmful but not illegal content including by pushing for smaller digital services and adtech companies to sign up to voluntary rules aimed at tackling the spread of this type of manipulative and often malicious content.
EU lawmakers pointed to risks such as the threat to public health posed by the spread of harmful disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines as driving the need for tougher action.
Concerns about the impacts of online disinformation on democratic processes are another driver, they said.