Brussels to Big Tech: Open up your algorithms — or else

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2021-05-26 13:30:07

The European Commission is expected to demand that Facebook, Google and Twitter alter their algorithms — and prove that they have done so — to stop the spread of online falsehoods, according to three people briefed on the proposals that will be published Wednesday.

Under the new rules, which must be negotiated with the world's largest social media companies after they are published, Brussels will also require the firms to disclose how they are responding to the spread of disinformation on their platforms; what measures they are taking to either remove or demote specific content or accounts that promote falsehoods; and provide online users with greater transparency on how they are targeted with digital ads.

The measures would mark the farthest any country or region has gone in forcing tech companies to disclose the inner-workings of the algorithms used to populate social media feeds. These machine-learning tools have been criticized for promoting viral hateful or false content, including material associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, over more more mainstream sources. The companies deny wrongdoing.

The upcoming announcement, which the three people spoke about on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, is part of a revamp of the Commission's so-called code of practice on disinformation.