Social Media Platforms Face Criticism Over Disinformation Reports

Major Tech Platforms Fall Short on EU Disinformation Code Compliance

Social media giants are facing criticism for inadequate progress in combating disinformation across the European Union, despite signing onto a voluntary code of practice aimed at tackling fake news and misinformation.

Industry watchdogs and fact-checking organizations point to significant gaps in implementation, with most major platforms showing minimal results more than six months after the code took effect. When reached for comment, Twitter failed to respond before publication, while Google issued a statement expressing its commitment to “making the Code of Practice a success.” Meta defended its efforts, stating it has built “the largest global fact-checking network of any platform” and invested heavily in combating falsehoods.

However, critics remain unconvinced. Analysts like Nicotra highlighted Google’s lack of progress in collaborating with fact-checkers and criticized the company for falling “really behind on transparency and access to data” for independent researchers. TikTok received somewhat better marks but still faces concerns, with Nicotra noting that the platform’s algorithm “is still massively accelerating disinformation” despite some improvements.

TikTok has taken more visible action compared to its competitors. The video-sharing platform reported removing nearly 865,000 fake accounts across the European Union between June and December 2022. These accounts had accumulated over 18 million followers before being taken down. The geographic distribution of these fake accounts was substantial, with over 175,000 in France, 155,000 in Spain, and more than 138,000 in Germany. Additionally, the platform banned over 4,000 accounts for impersonation, including 842 in Germany and approximately 500 each in both France and Poland.

Despite these efforts, Carlos Hernández, head of public policy at the Spanish-language fact-checking organization Maldita.es, expressed disappointment with the overall industry response. “The Code has been in place for more than half a year and most larger platforms have very little to show up for [it], maybe with the exception of Meta and TikTok to a lesser degree,” Hernández stated.

Even for platforms like TikTok that have provided more detailed information than their competitors, experts question the trustworthiness of self-reported figures. The absence of external audits and continuing barriers to data access for independent researchers make it difficult to verify companies’ claims about their disinformation efforts.

TikTok appears to recognize this criticism. Caroline Greer, the company’s head of EU public affairs, acknowledged the need for greater transparency and confirmed that the platform is working on expanding access for researchers. “It’s an example of one project where it’s not in place today, but it’s in progress,” Greer said.

The struggle to implement effective anti-disinformation measures comes at a critical time for social media companies operating in Europe. The EU has been progressively tightening regulatory requirements for digital platforms, with the Digital Services Act set to impose stricter obligations on content moderation and algorithmic transparency.

Industry observers note that the voluntary code was meant to demonstrate tech companies’ willingness to self-regulate ahead of more stringent legislation. The apparent failure to deliver substantial results may strengthen arguments for mandatory regulations with enforcement mechanisms rather than voluntary commitments.

As election cycles approach in several European countries, the pressure on platforms to demonstrate effective action against disinformation is likely to intensify. Public concern about the role of social media in spreading false information remains high, particularly after documented instances of foreign interference in previous electoral processes across the continent.