Twitter Leaves EU Disinformation Code

Twitter has decided to leave the EU’s code of practice on disinformation, which is a voluntary pact that groups together major social media platforms. Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted on Saturday that although Twitter has left the pact, its obligations remain. The code of practice was launched in 2018 and counts nearly three dozen signatories, including big names in the industry such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, and Twitter. The code also covers smaller platforms, advertisers, fact-checkers, and non-governmental organizations. Written by industry players themselves, the code contains over three dozen pledges that aim to combat disinformation, such as better cooperation with fact-checkers and not promoting actors distributing disinformation.

Legal Obligation to Fight Disinformation

Breton tweeted that fighting disinformation will be a legal obligation under the digital services law (DSA) from August 25, going beyond voluntary commitments. He warned that Twitter can run but cannot hide, and that their teams will be ready for enforcement.

Elon Musk’s Relaxed Moderation

Since billionaire Elon Musk bought the social network six months ago, he has relaxed the moderation of problematic content. This relaxation of moderation appears to have amplified the voices of notorious propagators of disinformation on the platform. Breton warned that if Musk does not take the code seriously, he should quit.

Combating Disinformation

Combating disinformation has become a priority for social media platforms as it has become easier for false and harmful information to spread rapidly across the internet. In recent years, governments worldwide have been introducing regulations to curb the spread of disinformation. The EU’s code of practice on disinformation is a voluntary pact that aims to tackle the issue. However, Breton’s tweet shows that fighting disinformation will be a legal obligation under the DSA.

Twitter has left the EU’s code of practice on disinformation, but their obligations to combat disinformation remain. Fighting disinformation will become a legal obligation under the DSA from August 25, and Breton has warned that Twitter’s teams will be ready for enforcement. The issue of disinformation is a priority for social media platforms, and the EU’s code of practice on disinformation is a voluntary pact that aims to tackle the issue.