Alphabet Inc unit Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook Inc, Twitter Inc(TWTR.N) and other tech companies will have to take measures to counter deepfakes and fake accounts on their platforms or risk hefty fines under an updated European Union code of practice, according to an EU document.
The move is part of the European Union’s crackdown against fake news. On Thursday the European Commission is expected to publish an updated code of practice on disinformation.The updated code spells out examples of manipulative behaviour such as deepfakes and fake accounts which the signatories will have to tackle.
While the code was introduced as a voluntary measure in 2018, it will now become a co-regulation scheme, with responsibility shared between the regulators and signatories to the code.‘Relevant signatories will adopt, reinforce and implement clear policies regarding impermissible manipulative behaviours and practices on their services, based on the latest evidence on the conducts and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) employed by malicious actors,’ the document reportedly said.
The code will also be linked to tough new EU rules known as the Digital Services Act (DSA) agreed by the 27-country European Union earlier this year which has a section on combating disinformation.
According to the DSA, companies which fail to live up to their obligations under the code can face fines of as much as 6% of their global turnover. Companies have six months to implement measures to tackle deepfakes once they have signed up to the code. Signatories will also have to take measures against ads containing disinformation and provide more transparency on political advertising.
