A “massive anti-vaccination campaign” has been cited by the European Commission as a reason for social media platforms to intensify their factchecking and revise the internal algorithms that can amplify disinformation. Messaging services such as WhatsApp could also be covered by the code. Social media companies that sign up will be better able to show they are dealing with online falsehoods and avoid financial penalties. Věra Jourová, a European Commission vice-president, said the details of how the code will work would be discussed with the signatories, with the intention that it will come into force in 2022. She said: “We see a very massive anti-vaccination campaign, which can really hinder our efforts to get people vaccinated and to get rid of Covid.

Source: The Guardian May 26, 2021 12:22 UTC