Elon Musk’s Twitter has not been as effective as Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and TikTok in tackling disinformation over the past six months, the European Union (EU) has remarked.
Twitter did not send a complete report to the EU detailing its efforts to contain disinformation, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company has been urged to take concrete measures to counter disinformation.
The strong remarks came from the European Commission after leading social media companies submitted on Thursday progress reports on adherence to the EU’s strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation in the last six months. The reports included details regarding the tech giants’ commitments to counter disinformation such as advertising revenue turned away from malicious actors, detection of manipulation across social media platforms, and information on political advertisements accepted or rejected for publication.
The EU was visibly disappointed by Twitter’s deficient approach to combating disinformation in comparison to its counterparts. The company’s report was missing important data and details on its commitments of empowering fact-checkers, said the Commission in a statement.
“I am disappointed to see that Twitters report lags behind others and I expect a more serious commitment to their obligation,” said Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova.
The code of practice was beefed up in 2022 after being linked to the Digital Act Services, a new set of regulations which allows regulators to fine tech companies up to 6 per cent of their annual global revenue in case of violations. Under the DSA, the EU could even ban the social media platform in the region.
The EU’s remarks echo findings from the research that was conducted into the radically regressing content on Twitter following Musk’s $44 billion takeover in October. Various studies found that hate speech, harassment, and disinformation on the basis of individuals’ race and identity surged dramatically after the acquisition.
Twitter’s weak efforts to counter disinformation could tick off regulators, according to experts.
The next reports will be submitted in July.
