Google brings political advertisers to heel, Wemove.EU calls for European Green Deal, and Donald Tusk greets new job with zeal.
This week we are supported by Ceemet, the European employers’ organisation. Find out more about them at the end.
On Wednesday tech behemoth, Google, announced it would stop political advertisers targeting voters based on political affiliation, tighten ban on demonstrably false claims and explicitly ban doctored video and images known as “deep fakes” as Ian Brown reported.
Google to limit ad targeting based on political affiliation, and ‘explicitly ban doctored video and images known as “deepfakes”, misleading claims about the census, and “demonstrably false claims” that could undermine trust in elections’ https://t.co/YYRyLK0eFy
— Ian Brown (@1Br0wn) November 21, 2019
Prompting Joe to ask: “Does anyone remember when democratically elected governments used to govern? Or did I just imagine it?”
Does anyone remember when democratically elected governments used to govern? Or did I just imagine it? #google #elections https://t.co/siOZsD8owI
— Joe (@why0hy) November 21, 2019
The Telegraph reported that the move “will freeze British politicians out of its most powerful targeted advertising systems as it races to prepare for the UK’s GeneralElection”
#Google will freeze British politicians out of its most powerful targeted advertising systems as it races to prepare for the UK's #GeneralElection2019 https://t.co/X0yeyXO8rS#GE2019
— Telegraph Technology Intelligence (@TelegraphTech) November 21, 2019
But as Garry Kasparov once said: The point of modern propaganda isn’t only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust critical thinking, to annihil ate truth.
Jon Worth tweeted that it feels like UK political commentators are getting a crash course in this over the last 48 hours.
Feels like UK political commentators are getting a crash course in this over the last 48 hours https://t.co/GW3iGa8pOG
— Jon Worth (@jonworth) November 20, 2019
Simoney Kyriakou described the move as “interesting” adding that “the public must be able to trust information providers.”
Very interesting move by #Google to ban specific, targeted political advertising. The public must be able to trust information providers.
Good to discuss this on #BBCBriefing this morning.#Election2019
— Simoney Kyriakou (@MoorgateMermaid) November 21, 2019
And Jason Kint said it was a “very positive move by Google.” Pointing out that Twitter has eliminated political ads entirely, leaving Facebook as the only irresponsible holdout.
🙌🏽👏🏽👍🏽🙏🏽
Huge very positive move by Google. I want to review details but this looks to be exactly what @EllenLWeintraub and many above advocated. With Twitter's elimination of political ads entirely, Facebook shown as irresponsible to public (once again).https://t.co/q3xSwGWtJz— Jason Kint (@jason_kint) November 21, 2019
On Wednesday, WeMove.EU staged a die-in the European Parliament demanding MEPs block a new European Commission unless they’re ready to commit to a RealGreenDeal.
BREAKING: @wemoveEU and young people @youth4climateBE are staging a die-in the @europarl demanding MEPs #VoteForMyFuture & block a new EU Commission unless they’re ready to commit to a #RealGreenDeal. Are you @IratxeGarper @RCorbettMEP @mmargmarques @JytteGuteland @ManfredWeber? pic.twitter.com/pDWpgMm3BY
— WeMove.EU (@wemoveEU) November 20, 2019
Political parties were quick to respond, with GUE calling for “Solidarity”
Protestors inside the European Parliament highlight urgency of radical action to tackle the #ClimateCrisis ahead of key vote on #VdLCommission.
Solidarity! https://t.co/iZ8Deb5vA6
— The Left in the European Parliament (@GUENGL) November 20, 2019
Renew MEP Martin Hojsik welcomed the protest, saying “We need to listen and be reminded “
Postivite protest of #youthforclimate – die-in in front of @RenewEurope meeting calling on us to back only #realGreenDeal not #GreenWashg in order to save climate. happy that @CiolosDacian invited them to tell us few words. We need to listen and be reminded #saveClimate pic.twitter.com/xAaK0bqBgE
— Martin Hojsik (@mhojsik) November 20, 2019
Soon to be Commissioner for the European Green New Deal, Frans Timmermans posted this video of him promising that “fighting the climate crisis will be our number one priority.”
After talking to @TheProgressives MEPs this morning about the #EUGreenDeal I talked to this committed group of young people and promised them that fighting the climate crisis will be our number one priority in the new @vonderleyen @EU_Commission @wemoveEU #VoteForMyFuture pic.twitter.com/seFkFHHpuR
— Frans Timmermans (@TimmermansEU) November 20, 2019
Timmermans was also busy making promises elsewhere: Dave Keating reported that he got a standing ovation at the CleanHydrogen summit.
.@TimmermansEU gets a standing ovation at the #CleanHydrogen joint undertaking forum summit in Brussels after he promises that the #EuropeanGreenDeal will contain elements to speed research, investment and deployment of this technology that will have a "pivotal role" in Europe.
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) November 21, 2019
And EURACTIV’s Frédéric Simon was optimistic, tweeting: “Hopefully, things are about to change with the upcoming #EuropeanGreenDeal. A review of EU laws on shipment of hazardous waste has already been drafted.
Hopefully, things are about to change with the upcoming #EuropeanGreenDeal. A review of EU laws on shipment of hazardous waste has already been drafted and is ready to be published, according to one senior EU official. (3/4)
— Frédéric Simon (@FredSimonEU) November 20, 2019
Finally Brussels’ most caustic Instagrammer, Donald Tusk has a new job.
The former Council President was elected EPP President with 93% of the votes by at the group’s Zagreb Congress
🗳@donaldtusk has been elected EPP President with 93% of the votes by #EPPZagreb Congress delegates!
#OneEurope #OurPlanet #YourParty pic.twitter.com/xs9dk0bDqb— EPP (@EPP) November 20, 2019
Tusk has definitely had his Weetabix said Jennifer Rankin: “After five years I am fed up with being the European bureaucrat in chief. I am ready to fight and I hope you are too.”
Tusk has definitely had his Weetabix: "After five years I am fed up with being the European bureaucrat in chief. I am ready to fight and I hope you are too."
But not sure this says much about @eucopresident job.
— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) November 20, 2019
Not sure what this says about the Council president job!
Commission President Designate Ursula Von der Leyen was one of the first to congratulate Tusk…
Now surely, this image deserves to become a meme!
Congratulations on your election as President of the @EPP, dear Donald! You did a great job as @eucopresident for the past 5 years. We need your passion and conviction to successfully continue the European project.🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/B6XXvAWKTV
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 21, 2019
Speaking of memes, Mep assistant reckons the newly elected Tusk is looking at Fidesz like…
Newly elected Tusk looking at Fidesz like. #EPP pic.twitter.com/37UUiDoLMH
— mepassistant (@mepassistants) November 21, 2019
Finally, this week Euractiv celebrated 20 years – so a big Happy Birthday!
Congratulations @EURACTIV – 20 years of achivement, looking 20 years forward: Independent, unbiased and pro-European! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/ti9IoTdrCj
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) November 18, 2019
This week we are supported by Ceemet, the European employers’ organisation. Find out more about their 6 joint priorities following them online.
#Ceemet DG met w/his trade union counterpart Commissioner-designate @nicolasschmit2 to highlight
a) role of #SocialPartners #SocialDialogue
b) 6⃣ joint priorities on #skills #education #VET #training #digitalskills both identifiedMore on➡️https://t.co/EU8G3EIfQf #10PointPlan pic.twitter.com/6frF6tBi5H
— Ceemet (@CEEMET) November 19, 2019
