About: fake news
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).
Russian disinformation attempts to weaken ‘America’s commitment to Europe,’ US ambassador says
The Russian state is engaging in “subtle and insidious” disinformation campaigns that aim to “weaken America’s commitment to Europe” and “exploit the open market of ideas in our democracy,” the US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland has said.
EU raps Facebook, Twitter and Google for inaction on fake news
Online platforms are failing to make sufficient progress in the fight against disinformation, the European Commission warned on Thursday (28 December). As the European elections draw closer, the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA has called for national legislation in the fight against fake news.
Commission responds to Orbán’s latest anti-immigration campaign
The European Commission reacted strongly on Thursday (28 February) to a new anti-immigration campaign launched by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán earlier this week by saying it "distorts the truth" and refuting most of its points.
‘Digital gangsters’: UK parliament slams Facebook on data protection, disinformation
A UK Parliamentary report has singled out Facebook for failing to effectively protect user data and stem the spread of disinformation across its platform, saying that the tech giant "is unwilling to be accountable to regulators around the world."
Ahead of EU polls, Facebook voids accounts targeting Moldovan election
Facebook Inc said on Thursday (14 February) it had disrupted an attempt to influence voters in Moldova, increasing concerns that EU elections in May could be prey to malign activity.
UK report: Tax relief and extra funding for news outlets
A UK government-commissioned report published on Tuesday (12 February) called for extra support to be given to smaller news outlets, including an innovation fund for local news and tax reliefs for public interest journalism.
EU Commission hits out at Facebook’s disinformation report
European Commission Security Chief Julian King criticised the "patchy, opaque and self-selecting" reporting provided by Facebook and other tech giants following their bids to comply with the EU's code of practice against disinformation on Tuesday (29 January).
Facebook doesn’t have all the answers, says Clegg, as social media giant clamps down on political ads
Facebook users looking to run paid-for political advertisements will be required to abide by a set of new rules in the run-up to the European elections, the head of the social media giant's global affairs Nick Clegg said on Monday (28 January).
EU needs to ‘double efforts’ in the fight against disinformation, Gabriel says
The EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel has upped the ante in the fight against fake news, saying on Wednesday (23 January) that "new technologies are advancing extremely rapidly" and that as a result, the EU needs to "double its efforts."
Ansip uncovered: Commission Vice-President on disinformation, Huawei, copyright
EURACTIV's Digital Editor, Samuel Stolton, sat down with Vice-President of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, to speak about his recent decision to stand as an MEP, disinformation, 'those' Huawei comments and the difficulties with the copyright directive.
2019 LOOKAHEAD: Towards a ‘Techno-ethics’
2019 is likely to prove the dawn of a 'Techno-ethics' in which consumers will expect their rights to be respected in the digital realm as they are in everyday life and legislators will oblige tech giants to play by the same rules as the wider industry.
Digital 2018: A year in review
What happened in the world of digital policy during 2018? Here's a review of all the big stories, brought to you by Euractiv's Digital Affairs Editor, Samuel Stolton.
Some EU leaders are the ‘origin of fake news’, says Juncker
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker condemned Hungary's leader Viktor Orbán on Friday (14 December), accusing him of spreading fake news in relation to the UK's decision to withdraw from the EU. The comments came as EU leaders banded together to combat the spread of disinformation in the run up to the 2019 European elections.
EU Commission takes aim at disinformation, admits funding deficit
A four-strong contingency of European Commissioners came out with fighting talk against fake news on Wednesday (5 December), as the EU's executive presented its action plan on disinformation. But the funding shortfall in this field somewhat dampened the spirit of the announcement.
Beyond fake news: Strategic options for media ahead of EU elections
The European Commission has just released a short-term action plan on disinformation. Remarkably, the sustainability of the media sector is hardly addressed, write a group of MEPs and media industry experts.
EU equips itself for fight against manipulation at European elections
Brexit, the American elections - and talso he European elections? It is likely that "fake news" campaigns and attacks by hackers will also launched before the European elections. How well is Brussels prepared? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Fearing election hacking, EU leaders to ready sanctions
During a European Council meeting on Thursday (18 October), EU leaders agreed to impose sanctions to stiffen their response to cyber attacks and to rush through new curbs on online campaigning by political parties to protect next year's European election from interference.
EU code of practice on fake news: Tech giants sign the dotted line
Tech giants including Facebook, Google, Twitter and Mozilla have submitted plans to the European Commission outlining how they will abide by a code of practice against fake news, amid opposition on the proposals from a multistakeholder forum.
Europe needs urgent cybersecurity action
Election interference. Fake news. Hyper-partisanship. Ransomware. Denial of service attacks. Cyber-terrorism. Welcome to Europe’s new normal, writes Philippe Cotelle.
‘Europe is under attack’: Tajani and Gabriel on fake news
The EU faces an enormous challenge to counter the threat of disinformation ahead of the 2019 European elections, digital commissioner Mariya Gabriel and parliament president Antonio Tajani said on Thursday (27 September).
Russia: Master of information manipulation
Fake news is proliferating, carried by the virality of the internet and the crisis of confidence in democracies. However, nobody manipulates information as well as Russia does, according to a French study. EURACTIV France reports.
Commission’s approach to tackling online disinformation is an empty box
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel are keeping their eyes wide shut to the Russian disinformation threat, writes Jakub Janda.