TikTok, a new social network phenomenon, joined the EU Code of Good Practice on Online Hate Speech and Misinformation on Monday as digital giants try to persuade Europe to forgo additional legislation. "We are proud to adhere [to the Code of Conduct] to do our part," said Theo Bertram, in charge of relations with the authorities in Europe.
Facebook, Twitter and Google participated in the creation of the Code of Conduct in 2016 in which companies agree to quickly assess the content of their platforms, and to report and remove any illegal content. The digital giants are eager to demonstrate the success of this initiative, because they fear much more direct surveillance of Brussels on their daily operations.
Groups "take responsibility"
"Today's announcement once again shows that Internet companies take their responsibilities seriously and are ready to participate," said Siada El Ramly, head of EDiMA, the Brussels lobby of large American social networks. . The accession of Chinese TikTok comes on the same day as the publication of the annual EU report on the application of this Code of Good Practice.
This report shows that 90% of content reported to signers was evaluated within 24 hours, a significant improvement from 40% in 2016. More than 70% of content confirmed as illegal hate speech was successfully removed, compared to 26 % in 2016.
"Binding" measures
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, is preparing new "Digital Services Act" which could make mismanagement of illegal content punishable by law. This forthcoming legislation "will make a difference", assured the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders. This could include "binding" measures for platforms, prompted to "clarify how they support hate speech on their platforms," he said.
The digital giants were able to be comforted by the censorship by the Constitutional Council of a new French law on online hatred. The High Authority considered that the measure providing for platforms and search engines the obligation to remove "manifestly" illegal content within 24 hours, under penalty of being fined, was contrary to freedom of expression.
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