EU Commission Throws a Digital Wrench at Google, Twitter, and Facebook
Why the Tech Titans are Getting a Lift‑Off
The European Commission demanded that the three biggest social media juggernauts step up their game in the fight against online lies. Although the companies claim they’re on it, the Commission feels the visibility and details are a bit like a Netflix series with the subtitles turned off.
Code of Practice: The Big League Rules
- Monthly reports that show every de‑gossiping move
- Concrete benchmarks that prove the schemes are working
- Tools that make political ads as clear as a freshly cleaned window
- AI alerts and human fact‑checkers teaming up to spot fake camps
According to the whole squad of European commissioners—Andrus Ansip, Mariya Gabriel, Vera Jourova, and Julian King—“These platforms are rolling out robust policies across Europe to guard election integrity.” But the Commission nags: “We want more detailed evidence; the last reports feel a little vague, like a movie trailer with nothing posted.”
Platforms Speak Out
Facebook’s Reality Check
Facebook says it has uploaded its January report, mentioning new steps like:
- Enhanced political ad authorization
- Better labeling of political content
- Phasing out of 1.5 bn fake accounts from 2018 alone
They’re working on campaign timing indicators; however, those indicators will roll out only when the ad archive goes live outside the U.S.
Twitter’s Commit-To‑Action Promise
Twitter promises a fresh monthly report detailing either:
- Transparent rules around political campaign ads (announced last week)
- New security measures to keep the platform honest across the EU
What’s Next for the Digital Election Game
With European Parliament elections looming in May 2019, the Commission is calling for quick acceleration. They want platforms to:
- Deploy tools timely and consistently across all member states
- Improve transparency to show concrete impact
- Strengthen collaborations with fact‑checkers and scholars to flag disinformation early
In short: “Let’s speed up the fight against online misinformation and keep the elections clean.” The digital world’s got to show us the real numbers, not just fancy buzzwords.
