October 1, 2018

The European Commission has announced that representatives of online platforms, leading social networks, advertisers and the advertising industry have agreed on a self-regulatory Code of Practice to address the spread of online disinformation and fake news.

The Commission says that this is the first time worldwide that industry has agreed, on a voluntary basis, to self-regulatory standards to fight disinformation.

The Code aims to achieve the objectives set out in the Commission’s Communication, “Tackling online disinformation: a European approach”, published in April 2018, by including a wide range of commitments from the signatories, from transparency in political advertising to the closure of fake accounts and demonetisation of purveyors of disinformation.

The Code also includes an annex identifying best practices that signatories will apply to implement the Code’s commitments. The list of signatories has not yet been published.

This Code will become effective and will enter into force one month from its signature. The date of signature has not been published. To access the Code, click here.