EU and social networks want to fight Corona fake news

The EU fears ongoing fake news campaigns surrounding the Corona virus and therefore wants to hold social networks more accountable. According to a plan presented by the EU Commission on Wednesday, platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are to submit monthly reports on their fight against disinformation in the future. In addition, the companies are called upon to cooperate more closely with independent fact-checkers.

"During the coronavirus pandemic, Europe has been inundated by disinformation campaigns originating both inside and outside the EU," commented EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova. To combat this, she said, it is necessary to "mobilize all relevant actors, from online platforms to public authorities, and support independent fact-checkers and media."

Rising number of vaccination opponents

As an example of a worrying development, Jourova cited the growing number of vaccination opponents in Germany, for example. The topic of vaccination seems to be becoming the next battleground of spreaders of misinformation, she said. According to one study, the willingness to vaccinate in Germany has dropped by almost 20 percentage points in less than two months, she said.

The topic of disinformation is relevant for the EU primarily because of social dangers. It must fear that the misinformation could lead to dwindling trust in governments and the media as well as to a weakening of European influence in the world. According to the EU Commission, China and Russia are behind some of the campaigns.

Long list of false news

The list of false news spread during the Corona crisis is long. For example, conspiracy theorists repeatedly claim that Microsoft founder Bill Gates is behind the Corona virus and is conspiring with the EU to monitor all of humanity.

Other examples of Fake News are reports that the EU is not supporting partner countries in crisis management, that the crisis is to be used as a pretext for mass vaccinations, or that the new mobile phone standard 5G is the cause of Corona.

All this, according to the EU Commission, weakens social cohesion, endangers democracy and people's health. "Disinformation in times of the coronavirus pandemic can kill," said EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell, referring to the claim that drinking bleach can help against the coronavirus.

Monthly reports

Specifically, social networks, where lies often spread at breakneck speed, are now expected to provide detailed data in monthly reports on how they promote trustworthy content and curb fake news.

The platforms already provide links to information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and delete advertisements for counterfeit and overpriced medical products, she said. But more needs to be done, Jourova said. Restricting freedom of expression is not the point, she said. "I don't want to create a ministry of truth," the Czech said.

Facebook, Google, Twitter and Mozilla had already pledged in the fall of 2018 to take stronger action against misinformation on the web and signed a corresponding voluntary code of conduct. In the meantime, Tiktok has also joined, said Jourova on Wednesday. With Whatsapp one is in the discussion. Microsoft has already joined in 2019. Wednesday's report is to be incorporated, among other things, into planned projects of the EU Commission such as a law for digital services. This is a core concern of the authority. It is to define common rules for providers on the Internet. (SDA)