EU Official Reveals Twitter's Exit from Voluntary Pact Against Disinformation

Twitter has withdrawn from a voluntary agreement with the European Union (EU) aimed at combating online disinformation, according to a top EU official and reported first by AP.

Thierry Breton, European Commissioner, revealed on Friday that Twitter has exited the EU's "code of practice" on disinformation, which other major social media platforms have committed to supporting.

However, Breton emphasized that Twitter still has obligations under the EU's forthcoming stringent digital rules set to take place in August.

"Run But You Can't Hide"

In a tweet, Breton remarked, "You can run but you can't hide," suggesting that Twitter's departure from the agreement will not absolve the company from its responsibilities.

The choice to forsake the dedication to combatting false information seems to be the most recent action taken by billionaire owner Elon Musk to relax control over the social media company following his acquisition last year.

Musk has reversed previous regulations against misinformation and disrupted Twitter's verification system and policies for moderating content, all in pursuit of his vision to transform Twitter into a digital town square.

In the meantime, prominent technology companies such as Google, TikTok, Microsoft, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, continue to uphold their commitment to the EU code. This code mandates that participating companies assess their efforts in countering disinformation and provide regular reports on their progress.

There were already indications that Twitter was not fully prepared to fulfill its commitments. The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation bloc, had previously criticized Twitter for failing to provide a comprehensive initial report under the code, citing a lack of specific information and targeted data.

Breton highlighted that the new digital rules, integrating the code of practice, will make the fight against disinformation a legal obligation. He asserted that their teams will be ready to enforce the rules and hold accountable those who fail to comply.

2022 Code of Practice

The 2022 Code of Practice resulted from the collaborative work of the signatories. It is up to the individual signatories to determine which commitments they undertake and ensure the effectiveness of their implementation.

While the Commission did not endorse the code, it provided guidance and expressed satisfaction that, as a whole, the code met its expectations.

Signatories have pledged action in various areas, including demonetizing the dissemination of disinformation, ensuring transparency in political advertising, empowering users, enhancing cooperation with fact-checkers, and providing better access to data for researchers.

To ensure the longevity of the code, the signatories have recognized the importance of establishing a framework for ongoing collaboration through a permanent task force. Furthermore, the code incorporates a strengthened monitoring system that relies on qualitative reporting elements and service-level indicators to evaluate its effectiveness.