Twitter bails from EU code of practice on disinformation
2 Min Read
European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton announces Twitter's exit from the voluntary European Union’s Code of Practice on Disinformation but warns that the optional commitment will be put into law later in August 25.
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A Twitter logo is displayed in front of Elon Musk's Twitter account, April 15 2022. (Reuters)
Twitter exited the voluntary European Union’s Code of Practice on Disinformation, according to the European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
"Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But obligations remain," Breton tweeted on Friday, adding that the company "can run but you can’t hide."
The commissioner pointed to the fact that obligations to fight "disinformation" as the EU is looking to transfer what were previously voluntary commitments into law on August 25 under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
When the act is passed Twitter will be listed as a "very large online platform," which makes it legally required to take action against "harmful content" and submit annual risk assessments to the commission.
"Our teams will be ready for enforcement," Breton warned.
Twitter had failed to comply with the EU regulator's request of sending in a complete report that did not include all the data required as well as a commitment to utilizing fact-checkers. This made the social media giant the only major tech platform not to do so after it was acquired by Elon Musk in late 2022.
Musk has also fired the entirety of the company's Brussels office which has in turn made the commission's authority over the company ambigious. However, under the DSA Twitter can be fined up to 6% of its annual revenue or get completely banned from the continent for failing to comply with the EU's rules and regulations.
Read more: Twitter engineering chief quits after DeSantis campaign glitch.
