The European Commission has agreed a new "Code of Practice on Disinformation" with leading digital platforms and other companies.
The code of conduct to which Google, Meta, Microsoft, Twitter, Tiktok and others are committed aims to reduce disinformation and stop making money from it.
Anyone who spreads fake news, hate and propaganda should be excluded from advertising revenues.
The signatories assure that they will consistently pursue disinformation and work with "fact checkers" who will be paid "fairly".
Fake accounts, bots and deep fakes should be eliminated and reliable information given more weight.
Political advertising is marked as such.
Scientists should access data for research purposes, users should be able to report false information more easily.
The entire process is to be made transparent, and a task force led by the EU Commission is to oversee and account for it.
The "Code of Conduct" is the formulation of the new Digital Services Act (DSA) of the EU.
This new digital law provides for high penalties for companies
The agreement strengthens a "Code of Conduct" presented by the EU Commission in 2018 through the penalties threatened in the DSA and above all because it creates a uniform line of combating disinformation and involves more companies and institutions whose cooperation is necessary to prevent disinformation from being advertised and thus making money.
33 signatories so far
So far there have been 33 signatories. In addition to the digital corporations, the digital association DOT Europe, the World Federation of Advertisers, the European Association of Communications Agencies, the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the platforms Twitch and Vimeo, Clubhouse, The Bright App and the GARM initiative have also signed up the advertising industry and the organizations Avaaz and Reporters Without Borders.
The "Code of Practice" is open to other signatories.