The code of practice on disinformation

• Author: Jordan Hill - Malin Carlberg - Richard Procee - Iva Plasilova - Marion Goubet
• Pages: 24-31

Assessment of th e im plem en tat ion o f t he Code of Pract ice on Disinform at ion

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Dir ect or at e-Gen eral for Comm uni catio ns Net wor ks, Co nten t an d Tech nolog y

CHAPTER 4: THE CODE OF PRACTICE ON

DISINFORMATION

This section first describes the background to the Code of Practice on Disinformation,

including the wider context in which the Code was developed. It then outlines the aims

and scope of the Code.

Context

The European Union, with the then upcoming European elections on the horizon and

concerns of outsider interference in the democratic process, stepped up its efforts in the

area of combating and preventing the spread of disinformation in 2018. In January 2018,

the European Commission set up a high-level group of experts (the HLEG referred to in

chapter 3), to advise on policy initiatives to tackle the spread of disinformation. The group

was composed of 40 representatives of social media platforms and media organisations

and of citizens, civil society organisation and experts such as journalists and academics.

This expert group triggered and supported the idea of a European Code of Practice

“reflecting the respective roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders, especially

online platforms, media organisations, fact-checking and research organisations.”60

It met for the first time on 15 January 2018 and gathered opinions on actions that could

be taken at EU level to give citizens effective tools to identify reliable and verified

information and adapt to the challenges of the digital age. The main deliverable of the

HLEG was a report designed to review best practices in the light of fundamental

principles, and suitable responses stemming from such principles. This report also

suggested key principles for the elaboration of the Code of Practice, and how it should

be implemented by the Commission the relevant stakeholders:

1. Platforms should adapt their advertising policies, including adhering to “follow-

the-money” principle, whilst preventing incentives that lead to disinformation,

such as to discourage the dissemination and amplification of disinformation for

profit. These policies must be based on clear, transparent, and non-

discriminatory criteria;

2. Platforms should ensure transparency and public accountability regarding the

processing of users’ data for advertisement placements, with due respect to

privacy, freedom of expression and media pluralism;

3. Platforms should ensure that sponsored content, including political advertising, is

appropriately distinguished from other content;

60 DG Connect, 2018, Report of the independent High-level Group on fake news and online disinformation, A multi-

dimensional approach to disinformation