The European Union (EU) is watching with concern the chaotic situation prevailing in the digital space. Online media and other digital platforms are posing a problem for users, due to misuse by malicious actors.
The beneficiaries of this "anarchy" are using them for profit and to further their agendas.
Disinformation is also emerging as a form of their misuse.
Since 2015, the EU has begun preparing several regulations and acts, with the aim of initiating the regulation of the digital space, in cooperation with the providers of these services, such as the founders and leaders of major technology companies, also known as "Big Tech".
The following is a history of the EU's efforts in this direction, published by the EU portal - europarl.europa.eu:
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Since 2015, the EU has made continuous efforts to stop disinformation.
Former High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini that same year established StratCom, a task force dedicated to countering Russia's ongoing disinformation campaigns.
In the European Parliament's June 2017 resolution on online platforms and the digital market, members called on the Commission to analyse the legal framework regarding fake news and to verify the possibility of legislative intervention to limit the dissemination of fake news.
The Commission's 2018 Work Programme included an initiative against online disinformation. In October 2017, the Commission decided to set up a High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) representing academia, online platforms, news media and civil society organisations. It also launched a public consultation on 'fake news and online disinformation', focusing on content not covered by existing legislation.
The March 2018 HLEG report avoided the term 'fake news' and referred to it as disinformation, defined as false, inaccurate, or misleading information presented and promoted for profit or to intentionally cause public harm.
The Commission's April 2018 Communication Strategy on tackling online disinformation included:
• An EU-wide Code of Practice on disinformation,
• An independent European network of fact-checkers,
• Increasing media literacy to help Europeans identify online disinformation and view content critically,
• Increasing support for quality journalism,
• Coordination of the Commission and the EEAS to combat false narratives, by tackling disinformation and cooperating with other EU institutions,
• Support to member states to increase the sustainability of elections.
On 28 June 2018, the European Council called for an action plan with proposals for a coordinated EU response to disinformation, including appropriate mandates and resources. On 26 September 2018, a Code of Practice was published by online platforms, bringing together social media, advertisers and the advertising industry. The Code is self-regulatory and aims to reduce disinformation online by:
• Better review of ad placements to demonetize the spread of misinformation;
• Transparency of political and issue-based advertising to enable users to identify promoted content;
• Closing fake accounts and increasing transparency regarding interactions driven by automated accounts (bots);
• Easy and user-friendly access to reliable and diverse news sources;
• Strengthening the research community by encouraging efforts to monitor online disinformation and supporting research on disinformation and political advertising;
On March 18, 2019, an alert system was created between EU institutions and member states for the purpose of exchanging data and assessments of disinformation campaigns.
The EP resolution of 10 October 2019 on foreign interference and disinformation in elections called for an upgrade of the East StratCom task force to a permanent structure with higher funding. It called on online companies to cooperate to combat disinformation and for the EU to create a legal framework against hybrid threats.
The Council conclusions of 15 December 2020 called for EU intervention to counter hybrid threats and strengthen resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the same date, the Commission published proposals for a Digital Services Act (DSA) and a Digital Markets Act to create a safer digital space and a level playing field.
On 26 May 2021, the Commission published updated guidance to strengthen the Code and announced that it will become a co-regulatory instrument within the legislative framework of the DSA. The new measures include more work to stop disinformation, improve the transparency of ad placement, empower users to understand and detect disinformation, and increase fact-checking.
On 16 June 2022, the Code of Practice on disinformation was published, in which 34 members/signatories followed the Commission's 2021 Guidance and took into account the lessons learned from the COVID19 crisis and Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Together with the DSA, which is expected to be adopted in July 2022, the code will contain guidelines and tools to combat disinformation.
For EU actions on disinformation in general, please refer to European Democracy Action Plan on Train 6.