Twitter has exited the European Union’s voluntary disinformation code, the EU has said.
The news was announced by Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, who warned the platform that “you can run but you can’t hide,” cautioning that strict new laws would force compliance.
“Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide.
“Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25.
“Our teams will be ready for enforcement,” Breton wrote in a tweet which sparked huge reaction.
Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation.
But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide.
Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25.
Our teams will be ready for enforcement.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) May 26, 2023
The warning from Breton led to criticism from some, who accused him of “threatening” Twitter for pulling out of the code.
Political scientist Richard Hanania took issue with his words, tweeting: “The arrogance of these people. They build noting, contribute nothing to society, feel entitled to rule the world”.
Twitter pulls out of "voluntary" agreement with EU on fighting disinformation.
European Union commissioner: "You can run but you can't hide."
The arrogance of these people. They build nothing, contribute nothing to society, feel entitled to rule the world. pic.twitter.com/RLRK9oxnda
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) May 27, 2023
According to the BBC, Twitter has yet to confirm its stance on the code or issue a comment on the development.
The EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation was updated in 2022, and sets out a broad range of commitments and measures to “counter online disinformation”.
“Signatories committed to take action in several domains, such as; demonetising the dissemination of disinformation; ensuring the transparency of political advertising; empowering users; enhancing the cooperation with fact-checkers; and providing researchers with better access to data,” according to the EU.
The strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation was launched last June by 34 signatories who joined the revision process of the 2018 Code. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta, Google, TikTok and Microsoft are among those signed up to the code, which demands that companies measure their work on combating disinformation and produce reports on their progress on a routine basis.
Under Elon Musk’s ownership, critics have claimed that moderation at Twitter has been slashed, leading to an uptick in the spread of disinformation. However, in a viral interview given to the BBC last month, Musk challenged Britain’s national broadcaster over COVID “misinformation” and claims of a rise in “hate speech” on Twitter.
Musk took the journalist to task over claims of a surge in hate speech on his platform, asking him: “What hate speech are you talking about? I mean, you use Twitter. Do you see a rise in hate speech? Just a personal anecdote? I don’t.’”
The journalist was unable to give a specific example, while Musk laid into the BBC for its coverage of Covid related issues.
“Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and side effects of vaccinations and not reporting on that at all?” the scathing billionaire asked.
Elon Musk takes BBC to task over COVID “misinformation” and claims of increased “hate speech” on Twitter: “Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and side effects of vaccinations and not reporting on that at all?”pic.twitter.com/q537WNgsCp
— Michael P Senger (@michaelpsenger) April 12, 2023
There is now “less misinformation rather than more” on Twitter since he took over the company last October, he said.
During the rare interview, he also confirmed to the BBC that he has laid off more than 6,000 people at Twitter since taking over the company. He has claimed the decision has increased productivity, despite criticism.
“There were a lot of people that didn’t seem to have a lot of value. I think that’s true at many Silicon Valley companies.
“I think there is the possibility for significant cuts at other companies without affecting their productivity, in fact increasing their productivity,” he said in an interview given to the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit in London last week.
Alongside its voluntary disinformation code, the EU has also introduced a Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims, alongside the Digital Markets Act, to “create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights of users are protected and to establish a level playing field for businesses”.
“The rules specified in the DSA primarily concern online intermediaries and platforms. For example, online marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms,” the EU states regarding the law which obliges firms to do more to challenge illegal online content.
From 25 August, platforms which have more than 45 million active users in the EU will be forced to comply legally with the rules under the DSA. These include Twitter, Google, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, the EU said in a press statement released in April.