EU urges Google, Facebook to label AI-generated content
3 Min Read
The request comes as efforts are made to counter Russian disinformation, and Twitter is cautioned to abide by new digital content regulations.
-
European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova addresses the plenary at the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP)
In an effort to counter alleged Russian disinformation and false news, the EU has encouraged social media companies like Google and Facebook to "immediately" begin labeling content and photos created by artificial intelligence.
The EU has also threatened Twitter with "swift" sanctions if it does not abide by new digital content regulations that take effect across the bloc on August 25.
Two weeks ago, Elon Musk's firm left the EU's voluntary code of practice, and if it doesn't function under the sponsorship of the Digital Services Act, it may face fines of up to 6% of its global revenue, or £145 million in penalties, or be barred from doing business in the EU.
The EU has also requested that Facebook and other companies devote more resources to fact-checking content that is written in minority languages and in Eastern Europe, where alleged Russian "disinformation tactics" are viewed as a concern, as part of the broader effort to counteract what they dub "Russian misinformation".
Read more: CIA, Biden conspired to blame Russia for Hunter laptop: House Panel
"This is not business as usual; what the Russians want is to undermine the support of the public opinion of our citizens for the support of Ukraine," said Věra Jourová, a European Commission Vice-President, announcing the new package.
"We simply have to defend our interests, our democracy; we have also to defend our, I will say it, fight and war, because what we do is support your claim to win the war."
The EU is regarded as the leader in regulating internet businesses and is creating separate laws on artificial intelligence. The code of practice, which was agreed to by 44 companies, including TikTok and YouTube, is seen as the best way to get ready for the new regulatory framework.
As a result, Jourová called Twitter's decision to leave the voluntary code "a mistake" on Monday.
Many think the commission won't think twice about using Twitter as an example to demonstrate the DSA's power.
“Twitter has chosen the hard way. They chose confrontation. This was noticed very much in the commission. I know the code is voluntary but make no mistake, by leaving the code, Twitter has attracted a lot of attention, and its actions and compliance with EU law will be scrutinised vigorously and urgently,” Jourová said.
The EU is requesting that businesses mark AI content in a meaningful way that will register with users while they are scrolling and preoccupied with other things.
They intend to mark the content with phrases like "this is the robot talking" so that users can "clearly see" that it was not created by actual people.
Jourová claimed that it was the responsibility of social media corporations to combat the possible "dark side" of AI, which has the capacity to quickly fabricate events and voices.
Ten days ago, when she first met Google's CEO Sundar Pichai, she inquired about his company's ability to identify fake news.
"His answer was: 'Yes, but we are developing technologies further,'" she said.
