Disinformation
Russian-backed organisations amplifying QAnon conspiracy theories, researchers say
Russian government-supported organisations are playing a small but increasing role amplifying conspiracy theories promoted by QAnon, raising concerns of interference in the November US election.
Facebook’s algorithm a threat to public health, doctors say
**This article has been updated with comments from the European Commission. While medical professionals continue to raise alarm of the dangers of inaccurate information on social networks, a new report estimates the content of health misinformation spreading networks on Facebook...
Facebook, Twitter pull Trump posts over coronavirus misinformation
Facebook on Wednesday (5 August) took down a post by US President Donald Trump, which the company said violated its rules against sharing misinformation about the coronavirus.
‘Utmost importance’ for transparency rules on political ads, EU report says
It is of the 'utmost importance' for the EU to do more to reign in the unregulated environment of online political advertising by establishing more stringent transparency obligations, said a European Commission-backed report on media plurality, published on Thursday (23 July).
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter to face same EU rules on hateful content as broadcasters
Facebook, Alphabet-owned YouTube, Twitter and other social media will for the first time be subject to EU broadcasting rules on hate speech and harmful content under European Commission guidelines announced on Thursday (2 July).
Twitter takes down Beijing-backed influence operation pushing coronavirus messages
Twitter on Thursday (11 June) said it removed more than 170,000 accounts tied to a Beijing-backed influence operation that deceptively spread messages favorable to the Chinese government, including about the coronavirus.
European Digital Media Observatory launched in Florence to analyse disinformation
The European Digital Media Observatory, which aims to analyse disinformation, was launched on Monday (1 June) in Florence. Funded by the EU, it brings together researchers and experts in media literacy. EURACTIV Italy reports.
Georgia targeted by fake stories of US secret labs spreading COVID-19
EU foreign ministers are discussing China on Friday (29 May), as the country started to back Russian narratives of Washington-led biological weapon development in Georgia and other post-Soviet countries. One widely circulating allegation in the internet during the pandemic claimed...
Hungarian detentions evidence of government intimidation, say critics
Two men have been detained since Tuesday (12 May) on suspicion of ‘scaremongering’ after sharing posts critical of the government on Facebook, local media reported.
EU citizens stranded as repatriation efforts face obstacles
EU citizens are facing increasing challenges to return to the bloc due to the escalating number of travel restrictions announced across the globe as a result to the coronavirus outbreak. Foreign ministers in their first-ever video conference on Monday (23...
Russian coronavirus disinformation may be for domestic audiences, expert says
While the West blames Russia for spreading disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic with the aim of sowing distrust in Western public institutions and healthcare systems, an expert has pointed out that Russia's domestic audience may actually be the main target of the disinformation campaign.
EU Rapid Alert System used amid coronavirus disinformation campaign
An EU instrument designed to monitor serious cases of disinformation has been triggered following a series of online campaigns surrounding the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the European Commission has confirmed.
Facebook’s Zuckerberg backs regulation of harmful online content
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday (15 February) said harmful online content should be regulated, adding that his company should be subject to a regulatory framework that is different from those used for existing media and telecoms companies.
Facebook says it dismantles Russian intelligence operation targeting Ukraine
Facebook on Wednesday (12 February) said it had suspended a network of accounts used by Russian military intelligence to seed false narratives online targeting Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe.
‘New generation of disinformation’ awaits next Commission, says rights group
Disinformation campaigns are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are developing almost unregulated, according to civil rights activists who say the European Commission's relying on the self-regulation of social media platforms is no longer enough.
Facebook shuts dozens of fake-news pages ahead of EU vote
Facebook has taken down nearly 80 pages spreading fake news or using tactics that appeared aimed at unfairly influencing the European Parliament vote this weekend, an NGO reported Wednesday (22 May).
European election candidates consider next steps for EU media policy
Lead candidates for the upcoming European elections are pondering ways of safeguarding the media sector's integrity in light of persistent economic challenges and emerging threats like Russian disinformation.
Facebook takes down fake Italian accounts ahead of EU election
Facebook said on Sunday (12 May) it had taken down numerous Italian accounts on its platform that were false or were spreading fake news ahead of a European parliamentary election later this month.
Greece threatens to raise Facebook’s fact-checking issue at EU Council
The Greek government has lashed out against Facebook, after the social media platform decided to partner with a “controversial” fact-checker in the country. Athens says it is now prepared to raise the issue at an EU level, unless it gets satisfactory answers.
In the fight against fake news, YouTube has a ‘bias toward keeping content up’
YouTube has a systemic 'bias towards keeping content up,' although the video-sharing platform recently removed more than one million channels for violation of its policies as part of the EU's code of practice against disinformation, EURACTIV has learnt.
‘Regulation will not solve Facebook’s problems,’ Commission says
Better regulation won't divert attention away from Facebook's shortfalls in other areas, European Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová told EURACTIV.com, criticising Mark Zuckerberg's recent call for tighter regulatory frameworks on internet services.
Facebook says political ads fix brings ‘unprecedented levels of accountability’
Facebook has unveiled a raft of measures to prevent foreign campaigns from interfering in national elections. But the plans will also make it more complicated for pan-European parties to advertise in countries where they are not directly represented.
Commission urges platforms to take action on fake accounts before EU elections
Online platforms need to step up their attempts to quell the spread of fake accounts but also provide greater independent access to their content for fact checkers, as part of their wider efforts in compliance with the code of practice against disinformation, the European Commission said on Wednesday (20 March).