EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation | European Commission

The European Commission has strengthened its approach to combating disinformation with an updated Code of Conduct, marking a significant step in the bloc’s ongoing efforts to protect its democratic processes and information ecosystem.

The revised EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation represents the culmination of months of consultation with technology platforms, advertisers, fact-checkers, and civil society organizations. It establishes more rigorous standards for online platforms operating within the European Union’s digital space.

Under the new framework, major online platforms including Meta, Google, Twitter, and TikTok must implement transparent measures to reduce the spread of false or misleading information. The code introduces concrete commitments requiring signatories to develop tools for identifying manipulative behaviors and limiting the monetization of disinformation.

“Disinformation is not a trivial matter—it threatens our democratic values, polarizes public discourse, and deprives citizens of their right to make informed choices,” said Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency. “This strengthened code arrives at a crucial moment when our democratic institutions face unprecedented digital threats.”

The initiative comes amid growing concerns about foreign interference in European affairs, particularly as several member states approach election cycles. Intelligence agencies across the EU have documented increases in coordinated disinformation campaigns originating from both state and non-state actors aiming to influence public opinion.

A key innovation in the updated code is its alignment with the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s landmark digital regulation. This alignment effectively transforms many voluntary commitments into legally binding obligations, especially for very large online platforms with more than 45 million users in the EU.

Platforms must now provide researchers with better access to data for studying disinformation phenomena and develop comprehensive advertising libraries showing who paid for political advertisements. Additionally, the code mandates improved fact-checking coverage across all EU languages and requires platforms to reduce the visibility of debunked content.

The revised framework also addresses the financial incentives behind disinformation. Advertising networks must prevent the placement of ads alongside content identified as disinformation, effectively demonetizing sources of false information.

“We’re moving beyond the era of self-regulation to a co-regulatory approach with real accountability,” explained Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market. “Platforms that fail to comply with their commitments under the code may face significant penalties under the Digital Services Act framework.”

The enforcement mechanism represents a substantial evolution from the original 2018 code, which critics labeled as toothless due to its purely voluntary nature. Under the new system, platforms must submit regular transparency reports detailing their actions against disinformation, with independent audits verifying their claims.

Digital rights organizations have generally welcomed the changes while emphasizing the need for careful implementation. “The strengthened code contains promising improvements, but its effectiveness will depend entirely on rigorous enforcement,” said Jan Penfrat of European Digital Rights (EDRi). “We must ensure these new rules don’t inadvertently restrict legitimate speech or disproportionately impact smaller platforms.”

Industry observers note that the EU’s approach could influence global standards, as major platforms may find it impractical to maintain different content policies across regions.

The reinforced code forms part of the European Democracy Action Plan, a broader initiative to protect election integrity, promote media freedom, and counter disinformation. It reflects the European Commission’s strategic priority of creating a Europe fit for the digital age while preserving fundamental rights.

Implementation will be overseen by a new Transparency Center, which will track signatories’ progress and provide a resource hub for researchers and citizens interested in disinformation resilience.

As digital information spaces continue to evolve, the Commission has committed to regular reviews of the code to address emerging threats and technologies, particularly concerning deepfakes and other synthetic media that present novel challenges to information integrity.