The EU is exerting pressure on prominent social media platforms such as Facebook and Google, urging them to mark images and content created by artificial intelligence (AI) as a measure to tackle the spread of fake news and disinformation. Concurrently, Twitter has received a warning that failure to adhere to the upcoming digital content laws, which will be enforced throughout the EU from August 25, may result in immediate sanctions.
Twitter, a company led by Elon Musk, recently opted out of the voluntary code of conduct established by the European Union. Consequently, it now faces the possibility of facing significant financial penalties amounting to 6% of its worldwide earnings or being prohibited from conducting business within the European Union. These potential consequences arise due to Twitter's failure to comply with the regulations outlined in the Digital Services Act.
The EU has urged Google and other platforms to dedicate additional resources to fact-checking in regions of Eastern Europe and minority languages, as they are particularly susceptible to Russian disinformation campaigns. This request is part of the EU's broader efforts to combat the spread of false information.
Věra Jourová, a Vice-President of the European Commission, highlighted the gravity of the issue, stressing that Russian disinformation aims to weaken the public's backing for Ukraine. Jourová emphasized the vital importance of safeguarding democracy and actively combating the spread of disinformation.
The European Union (EU) is widely acknowledged for its leadership in regulating technology companies, and it is presently in the process of creating specific legislation for artificial intelligence (AI). The voluntary code of practice, which has been endorsed by 44 companies including TikTok and YouTube, is considered a crucial initial measure in paving the way for the upcoming regulatory framework.
The decision by Twitter to no longer adhere to the voluntary code was seen as confrontational, according to Jourová, who characterized it as an error. There is speculation that the European Commission might choose to showcase Twitter as an illustration to underscore the power and effectiveness of the Digital Services Act.
The European Union is calling on companies to ensure that AI-generated content is identifiable to users as they browse through their social media feeds, even when they may be preoccupied with other posts. The labels should make it evident that the content is not created by human beings, using phrases such as "this is the robot speaking."
Jourová stressed the importance of social media companies taking responsibility for addressing the potential negative aspects of AI, which can be used to fabricate events and voices within seconds. She revealed that during her recent meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, she inquired about the company's ability to detect fake news. Pichai confirmed that Google has the technology but is continuously developing it further.
To summarize, the European Union (EU) is calling on social media platforms to act promptly by labeling content and images created by artificial intelligence (AI) to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation, with a focus on countering Russian influence. Twitter has received a warning about possible sanctions if it fails to adhere to the new digital content laws. The EU has a strong reputation for its regulation of technology, and the voluntary code of practice is seen as a crucial step toward the upcoming regulatory framework. The EU also expects social media companies to dedicate more resources to fact-checking in regions that are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns and in minority languages. The labeling of AI-generated content should be easily visible and recognizable to users. It is the responsibility of social media platforms to confront the potential negative impact of AI on the spread of disinformation.
Read next: Major Challenges Lay Ahead For Twitter’s New CEO As App’s Advertising Revenue Declines 59% YoY
Twitter, a company led by Elon Musk, recently opted out of the voluntary code of conduct established by the European Union. Consequently, it now faces the possibility of facing significant financial penalties amounting to 6% of its worldwide earnings or being prohibited from conducting business within the European Union. These potential consequences arise due to Twitter's failure to comply with the regulations outlined in the Digital Services Act.
The EU has urged Google and other platforms to dedicate additional resources to fact-checking in regions of Eastern Europe and minority languages, as they are particularly susceptible to Russian disinformation campaigns. This request is part of the EU's broader efforts to combat the spread of false information.
Věra Jourová, a Vice-President of the European Commission, highlighted the gravity of the issue, stressing that Russian disinformation aims to weaken the public's backing for Ukraine. Jourová emphasized the vital importance of safeguarding democracy and actively combating the spread of disinformation.
The European Union (EU) is widely acknowledged for its leadership in regulating technology companies, and it is presently in the process of creating specific legislation for artificial intelligence (AI). The voluntary code of practice, which has been endorsed by 44 companies including TikTok and YouTube, is considered a crucial initial measure in paving the way for the upcoming regulatory framework.
The decision by Twitter to no longer adhere to the voluntary code was seen as confrontational, according to Jourová, who characterized it as an error. There is speculation that the European Commission might choose to showcase Twitter as an illustration to underscore the power and effectiveness of the Digital Services Act.
The European Union is calling on companies to ensure that AI-generated content is identifiable to users as they browse through their social media feeds, even when they may be preoccupied with other posts. The labels should make it evident that the content is not created by human beings, using phrases such as "this is the robot speaking."
Jourová stressed the importance of social media companies taking responsibility for addressing the potential negative aspects of AI, which can be used to fabricate events and voices within seconds. She revealed that during her recent meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, she inquired about the company's ability to detect fake news. Pichai confirmed that Google has the technology but is continuously developing it further.
To summarize, the European Union (EU) is calling on social media platforms to act promptly by labeling content and images created by artificial intelligence (AI) to combat the spread of fake news and disinformation, with a focus on countering Russian influence. Twitter has received a warning about possible sanctions if it fails to adhere to the new digital content laws. The EU has a strong reputation for its regulation of technology, and the voluntary code of practice is seen as a crucial step toward the upcoming regulatory framework. The EU also expects social media companies to dedicate more resources to fact-checking in regions that are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns and in minority languages. The labeling of AI-generated content should be easily visible and recognizable to users. It is the responsibility of social media platforms to confront the potential negative impact of AI on the spread of disinformation.
Read next: Major Challenges Lay Ahead For Twitter’s New CEO As App’s Advertising Revenue Declines 59% YoY
