EU: Tech giants to report monthly on COVID-19 fake news
The European Commission is pressing tech platforms to produce monthly reports about their efforts to tackle disinformation about COVID-19. The Commission is asking for more detailed information regarding how tech companies are promoting authoritative content, improving awareness, and limiting COVID-19 disinformation. Additionally, the Commission wants tech companies to collaborate with researchers and fact-checking organisations. The Commission has been requesting that platforms take action to address disinformation issues. However, the COVID-19 infodemic put more pressure on tech companies to effectively tackle the problem. European Commission’s Vice President Vera Jourova, in charge of values and transparency, said that measures taken so far were a first step but that there is a lot more room for improvement. In fact, Jourova mentioned that ‘removing financial incentives for those who seek to benefit from disinformation is crucial’.