EU to tackle deepfakes, with Big Tech like Google, Facebook, Twitter facing fines of 6 per cent of turnover
- The European Commission is expected to update its code on disinformation this week, with examples of manipulative behaviour such as deepfakes and fake accounts
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underpinned some of the changes in the code, Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova said
The European Commission is expected to publish the updated code of practice on disinformation on Thursday as part of its crackdown against fake news.
Introduced in 2018, the voluntary code will now become a co-regulation scheme, with responsibility shared between the regulators and signatories to the code.
The updated code spells out examples of manipulative behaviour such as deepfakes and fake accounts which the signatories will have to tackle.
“Relevant signatories will adopt, reinforce and implement clear policies regarding impermissible manipulative behaviours and practices on their services, based on the latest evidence on the conducts and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) employed by malicious actors,” the document said.
Deepfakes are hyperrealistic forgeries created by computer techniques that have triggered alarm worldwide in particular when they are used in a political context.
The code will also be linked to tough new EU rules known as the Digital Services Act (DSA) agreed by the 27-country European Union earlier this year which has a section on combating disinformation.