EU tells tech giants to tackle fake news by end of the year

The EU warned US tech giants Thursday to crack down on the spread of “fake news” by the end of the year or face regulation in the wake of a scandal involving the illegal harvesting of Facebook users’ data.

Brussels called for the creation of a network of “independent fact-checkers” and a code of conduct amid growing concerns over election meddling involving personal data.

“We are giving social networks and online platforms a chance to resolve the problem once and for all,” EU digital commissioner Mariya Gabriel told a news conference.

The Bulgarian commissioner called on tech firms to draw up a code of conduct by July, and proposed the creation of a secure online platform to tackle “disinformation.”

“We will closely monitor the progress made and may propose further actions by December, including measures of regulatory nature, should the results prove unsatisfactory,” she said.

A European Commission statement explicitly referenced the scandal over the massive leak of Facebook user data to British consultancy Cambridge Analytica for use in the election campaign of US President Donald Trump.

“The recent Facebook/Cambridge Analytica revelations demonstrated exactly how personal data can be exploited in electoral contexts, and are a timely reminder that more is needed to secure resilient democratic processes,” the statement said.