Twitter cannot evade its responsibilities despite its decision to withdraw from a voluntary EU code of practice aimed at combating disinformation, cautioned EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Friday.
Under the code, companies that signed up are obligated to provide regular progress reports, including data on the amount of advertising revenue they have prevented from reaching disinformation actors.
Additionally, they are required to disclose information on the number or value of political advertisements accepted or rejected, as well as instances of detected manipulative behaviors.
Breton stated in a tweet, “Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide.”
He emphasized that beyond voluntary commitments, fighting against disinformation will become a legal obligation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) starting from August 25. Breton assured that enforcement teams will be prepared to ensure compliance.
Since being acquired by billionaire Elon Musk for $44 billion in October, Twitter has undergone significant restructuring, including substantial job cuts and numerous changes.
The Digital Services Act imposes obligations on Twitter, Google, Meta Platforms, Microsoft Corp, Alibaba’s AliExpress, and five other major online platforms to intensify their efforts in combating illegal online content.
Companies found in violation may face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover.
