Amid mounting concerns over the influence of tech giants on democratic processes, the European Union’s executive has initiated the drafting of guidelines for Big Tech platforms to combat disinformation, hate speech, and counterfeits during elections.
With over a third of the global population set to participate in elections this year, the European Commission is taking proactive measures to address the challenges posed by tech companies’ power and influence.
“These are the first-ever guidelines…and aim to present Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines with best practices,” stated the Commission on Thursday.
Launching a public consultation this week, stakeholders have until March 7 to provide feedback. EU policymakers are urging tech giants to implement risk mitigation measures, particularly in response to the threat posed by AI-generated content.
National elections are scheduled in Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, Romania, and Austria this year, alongside European Union parliamentary elections in June. Additionally, the United States is gearing up for presidential elections, while ballots are also scheduled in Mexico, South Korea, Ghana, and numerous other countries.
“We know the electoral period in the EU is going to be targeted by hybrid attacks and foreign interference of all kinds,” remarked EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, emphasizing the need for tech platforms to play a role in safeguarding free and fair elections.
Earlier this month, the EU reached out to over a dozen tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Alphabet’s Google, seeking details on the measures they have implemented to provide researchers with access to relevant data for the upcoming EU and national elections.
