The major platforms (Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, Twitter) all of whom have signed the Code of Practice on Disinformation (see EUROPE 13110/16) launched a new digital Transparency Centre on Thursday 9 February. This will now be home to their first baseline reports.
In practical terms, these reports detail how platforms are translating the commitments they made in the Code into tangible actions. They contain, for example, the amount of advertising revenue destined for disinformation actors that have been blocked by the platforms, or even information and data on detected actions to manipulate information.
The aim of the Transparency Centre is therefore to ensure that the signatory platforms implement their commitments and actively fight against disinformation. Furthermore, “the Transparency Centre gives the opportunity to everyone – including researchers and NGOs – to delve into the available data and push for ongoing improvement and accountability”, said the Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, welcoming this fact.
All signatories have submitted their reports, but there are varying degrees of quality. Twitter, in particular, omitted data and commitments taken to support the community of fact-checkers. “Russia is also engaged in a real war of disinformation and the platforms must live up to their responsibilities”, pleaded Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová, who expressed her disappointment with Elon Musk's network.
In fact, while she welcomes the publication of the reports, she is of the opinion that “we cannot rely on the online platforms alone for the quality of information. They need to be independently verifiable”.
The next reports are expected in July.
For the current reports: https://aeur.eu/f/5aa (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)