EU official says Twitter abandons bloc’s voluntary pact against disinformation

LONDON (AP) — Twitter has dropped out of a voluntary European Union agreement to combat on line disinformation, a top rated EU official mentioned Friday.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted that Twitter had pulled out of the EU’s disinformation “code of practice” that other key social media platforms have pledged to assistance. But he added that Twitter’s “obligation” remained, referring to the EU’s difficult new digital guidelines taking impact in August.

“You can run but you cannot hide,” Breton mentioned.

San Francisco-primarily based Twitter responded with an automated reply, as it does to most press inquiries, and did not comment.

The selection to abandon the commitment to fighting false info seems to be the newest move by billionaire owner Elon Musk to loosen the reins on the social media business following he purchased it final year. He has rolled back prior anti-misinformation guidelines, and has thrown its verification technique and content material-moderation policies into chaos as he pursues his target of turning Twitter into a digital town square.

Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta are amongst these that have signed up to the EU code, which calls for firms to measure their function on combating disinformation and challenge normal reports on their progress.

There had been currently indicators Twitter wasn’t ready to reside up to its commitments. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm, blasted Twitter earlier this year for failing to offer a complete very first report below the code, saying it offered tiny particular info and no targeted information.

Breton mentioned that below the new digital guidelines that incorporate the code of practice, fighting disinformation will grow to be a “legal obligation.”

“Our teams will be prepared for enforcement,” he mentioned.

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