Twitter angers EU after withdrawal from ‘disinformation’ code

Billionaire Elon Musk last week angered European officials when he withdrew Twitter from the Code of Practice on Disinformation.

A group of social media platforms, advertising platforms, “fact-checkers” and other organizations last year pledged their commitment to the Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation, a set of actions to combat “disinformation”. 

Some of the code’s proposed actions include “demonetizing disinformation”, which entails blocking those accused of disinformation from receiving advertising revenue. A social media user who questions the COVID-19 vaccine, for example, would be “demonetized”.

Other items included in the code involve providing more authority to “fact-checkers,” increasing transparency in political advertising, and creating a “disinformation task force”.

While the code is currently described as a “self-regulatory framework” it is expected to become European law under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in August. Its signatories include Google, Microsoft, Meta, Adobe, TikTok, Vimeo, and others. 

Twitter, which had signed on to the code under previous management, withdrew from the group last week, according to a European Commission official.

“Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation,” European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton tweeted angrily. “But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide. 

“Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25. Our teams will be ready for enforcement.”

Breton has been irked by Musk on previous occasions, particularly by the billionaire’s free speech aims.

Breton first threatened Musk with penalties in April 2022 when the Tesla CEO announced his bid to purchase Twitter. 

“We welcome everyone,” Breton told the Financial Times in an interview. “We are open but on our conditions. At least we know what to tell him: ‘Elon, there are rules. You are welcome but these are our rules. It’s not your rules which will apply here.’”   

“Anyone who wants to benefit from this market will have to [abide by] our rules,” Breton added. “The board [of Twitter] will have to make sure that if it operates in Europe it will have to [fulfill] the obligations, including moderation, open algorithms, freedom of speech, transparency in rules, obligations to comply with our own rules for hate speech, revenge porn [and] harassment. If [Twitter] does not comply with our law, there are sanctions — 6 percent of the revenue and, if they continue, banned from operating in Europe,” he added. 

In October, the day after Musk purchased the social media company, Breton warned Musk again: “In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules.”