Twitter withdraws from EU code of conduct; harbinger of departure?

Since 2018, the European Union has applied a Code of Practice against disinformation, which was tightened in 2022. In fact, it is a voluntary code of conduct for major internet platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and the like. From the end of August, the major platforms and search engines must comply with the requirements and obligations of the new European Digital Services Act (DSA).

With this, the EU wants the operators of internet systems to take action against hate speech, propaganda, and anonymous threats, among other things. The code of conduct was tightened last year due to Russian war rhetoric against Ukraine. The new code will also apply to Twitter, which will then come directly under the supervision of the European Commission.

Earlier this year, the European Commission criticized Twitter for being the only signatory to submit an incomplete activity report and providing little information on how it plans to counter the influence of foreign actors and tackle disinformation. As a result of the EU rules, Facebook has already started removing accounts that engage in religious and political harassment.

"Apart from voluntary commitments, combating disinformation will become a legal obligation from August 25. The DSA regulation is intended to better protect internet users from harmful content, advertising, and privacy violations. The legislation makes it easier to take action against companies that disseminate child pornography, inciting and hateful content, or disinformation on the internet."

European news outlet Euractiv reported that the EU is a somewhat secondary market for Twitter and that "it is becoming increasingly likely that Twitter will choose not to comply with the DSA rules and completely withdraw from Europe. Therefore, ending participation in the voluntary code of practice may be the first formal step in Twitter's departure from Europe."