A recent report reveals that Google has informed the EU that it won't be adhering to an upcoming fact-checking law. The company has reportedly stated it will not include fact checks in search results or YouTube videos, nor will it use fact-checking data to influence content ranking or removal.
It's worth mentioning that Google has never really been involved in fact-checking as part of its content moderation strategy. However, it did back a European fact-checking database ahead of the recent EU elections, showing it's not completely hands-off.
The new fact-checking rule is part of the European Commission's updated Code of Practice on Disinformation. Essentially, it began as a voluntary set of guidelines to tackle misinformation but is now being turned into a mandatory rule.
Reportedly, in a letter to Renate Nikolay, the deputy director general at the European Commission's content and technology division, Kent Walker, Google's global affairs president, stated that the fact-checking integration required by the new Disinformation Code of Practice "simply isn't appropriate or effective for our services" and confirmed that Google won't be on board with it.
Walker added that Google will keep backing its existing content moderation tools, like Synth ID watermarking and AI labels on YouTube. He also pointed to a feature introduced on YouTube last year that lets some users add context to videos. It's pretty similar to X's Community Notes – and probably whatever experiment Meta is rolling out next.
Adding notes under videos is YouTube’s way to fight misinformation. | Image credit – Google
Speaking of which, this move comes right on the heels of Meta announcing it will end its fact-checking program in the US, so who knows if Mark Zuckerberg will bow to EU regulations. Meanwhile, X already reduced its use of professional fact-checkers a while back. As for what the EU will do when digital fact-checking becomes a legal requirement, your guess is as good as mine, but if history is any indication, fines and investigations could be on the horizon.
Create a free account and join our vibrant community
Register to enjoy the full PhoneArena experience. Here’s what you get with your PhoneArena account:
Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: