news 
Google Rejects EU Fact-Checking Commitments for Search and YouTube
In a surprising move, Google has notified the European Union that it will not be integrating work from fact-checking organizations into its search engine or video-sharing platform YouTube. This decision comes ahead of the bloc’s plans to expand disinformation laws, which were introduced in 2022.
Google had previously signed a set of voluntary commitments aimed at reducing the impact of online disinformation, but these agreements are now being formalized into law under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The pushback from Google suggests that the tech giant is unwilling to commit to fact-checking requirements for its services.
According to a letter seen by Axios, Google’s global affairs president Kent Walker affirmed that the company will not meet the fact-checking requirement as it “simply isn’t appropriate or effective” for its services. This decision means that Google will pull out of all fact-checking commitments in the Code before the rules become law.
The EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation commits signatories to work with fact-checkers across all EU countries, make their work available to users in all EU languages, and cut financial incentives for spreading disinformation. The code also compels companies to make it easier for users to recognize, understand, and flag disinformation, alongside labeling political ads and analyzing fake accounts, bots, and malicious deep fakes that spread disinformation.
Google had initially objected to some of the code’s requirements when signing the voluntary agreements, stating that “Search and YouTube will endeavour to reach agreements with fact checking organizations in line with this measure, but services will not have complete control over this process.”
The decision has raised concerns among EU officials and critics who argue that it undermines efforts to combat disinformation online. The move also contradicts Google’s previous commitments to address the issue of fake news.
It is worth noting that many other digital platforms that signed the voluntary disinformation code have been lax about fulfilling their commitments, according to the European Fact-Checking Standards Network.
Source: http://www.theverge.com
