Press release: EU must work harder to tackle disinformation

EU must work harder to tackle disinformation

July 2, 2019

NEWS FROM OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE

EU MUST WORK HARDER TO TACKLE DISINFORMATION

The European Union must work harder to tackle the spread of disinformation on the internet, the Open Knowledge Foundation has warned. In a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, chief executive Catherine Stihler has called for action to be ‘prioritised’ regarding online platforms that fail to do enough to tackle disinformation or do not fulfil promises made. She said ‘no sufficient progress has been made in developing tools to increase the transparency and trustworthiness of websites hosting adverts’, and Google and Twitter need to take steps to ensure the transparency of issue-based advertising. The letter comes after disinformation was discussed at last month’s European Council summit.

Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation, said: “Words are not enough in this battle to build a fair, free and open future. “It is essential that the European Commission prioritises action regarding online platforms that fail to do enough to tackle disinformation or do not fulfil promises made. “I firmly believe the institutions of the European Union must use their influence to force online platforms to provide more detailed information allowing the identification of malign actors, put pressure on Google and Twitter to increase transparency, and encourage closer working with fact checkers to prevent the spread of disinformation. “The best way to tackle disinformation is to make information open, allowing journalists, developers and the research community to carry out analysis of disinformation operations. With upcoming national elections across the EU, this is of paramount importance to help rebuild trust in politics and build a fair, free and open future.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The full letter follows:

1st July, 2019

Dear Jean-Claude,

I am writing to you following the conclusion of the European Council meeting on 20 June 2019. I am delighted that, further to the report on disinformation and securing free and fair elections, the European Council called for ‘sustained efforts to raise awareness, increase preparedness and strengthen the resilience of our democracies to disinformation’. This is a positive step in the fight against disinformation.

However, words are not enough in this battle to build a fair, free and open future. For that reason, I welcome the Commission's intention to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the implementation of commitments undertaken by online platforms and other signatories under the Code of Practice. It is essential that the European Commission prioritise action regarding online platforms that fail to do enough to tackle disinformation or do not fulfil promises made.

Since January, all online platforms have made progress with regard to the transparency of political advertising and Facebook has taken steps to ensure the transparency of issue-based advertising by releasing their global Ad Library and making the Ad Library API available. Google and Twitter need to catch up in this regard by unveiling similar APIs while all platforms must commit to carrying out further development effort to ensure that these tools are robust enough to enable scrutiny of disinformation activity by outside experts, researchers and journalists. At the same time, no sufficient progress has been made in developing tools to increase the transparency and trustworthiness of websites hosting adverts.

I firmly believe the institutions of the European Union must use their influence to force online platforms to provide more detailed information allowing the identification of malign actors, put pressure on Google and Twitter to increase transparency, and encourage closer working with fact checkers to prevent the spread of disinformation.

The best way to tackle disinformation is to make information open, allowing journalists, developers and the research community to carry out analysis of disinformation operations. With upcoming national elections across the EU, this is of paramount importance to help rebuild trust in politics and build a fair, free and open future.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Stihler Chief Executive Officer Open Knowledge Foundation

Contact: Alan Roden at [email protected] or +44 (0)7753 904 531

ABOUT OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION

Our vision is for a future that is fair, free and open. Our mission is to create a more open world – a world where all non-personal information is open, free for everyone to use, build on and share; and creators and innovators are fairly recognised and rewarded.

Open knowledge is any content, information or data that people are free to use, re-use and redistribute without any legal, technological or social restriction. The Open Knowledge Foundation helps governments, universities, and civil society organisations by providing them with skills and tools to publish, use, and understand data.