The European Commission is finally getting to grips with the question of “fake news” and vectors of disinformation. In spring 2018 it is hoping to publish a strategy on this phenomenon. In this perspective, on 13 November, it launched a high-level experts’ group and public consultation on fake news and online disinformation.
Last September, Commissioner Věra Jourová indicated, however, that she did not have any intention to tackle this question due to its national specificities. She considers that the fight against fake news falls within the remit of each member state and a “unified European response” is difficult to envisage. She subsequently declared that she was categorically opposed to setting up a “European Ministry of Truth”.
On 13 November, the Commission press service published a press release announcing the presentation of a communication in spring 2018 on fake news and online disinformation. Mariya Gabriel, the Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, stated, “Defending citizens’ rights to quality news is a cornerstone of our democracies and at the heart of the action I am taking. I want to have an open and broad discussion on fake news in an effort to tackle this complicated phenomenon and overcome the challenges facing us”.
The public consultation is open until mid-February and will request the different stakeholders to give their views on what action they think should be taken at a European level to provide citizens with effective tools for identifying reliable and verifiable information. It will focus in particular on three different areas: the problems encountered (perception and the level of trust), the assessment of the measures taken up until now and possible future action.
It will, nevertheless, exclusively focus on fake news and online disinformation whose content is legal.
For the time being, the question will focus on who the high-level group of experts will include. The Commission will be seeking individuals from the academic community, as well as representatives from the online platforms, newspapers and civil society organisations. According to the timetable unveiled by the press services, the group of experts is expected to have its first meeting in January 2018 and present its report in April. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)