2023-06-27 06:38:04
While Elon Musk removed Twitter from the European code of good practice on disinformation in the name of freedom of expression, the parliamentary work to force him to submit to it again is being implemented. This Tuesday, June 27 begins, in a special committee in the Senate, the examination of a bill to secure and regulate the digital space. Major dossier of the Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition, Jean-Noël Barrot, which provides, among other things, for a strengthening of the fight against disinformation.
“During his meeting with the President, Mr. Musk assured that he understood and that he would adhere to the European rules when they come into force”, said Jean-Noël Barrot during a lunch organized by the Association of Media Journalists on June 21. In any case, this is what the European Union’s Digital Services Regulation provides, which will come into force on August 25, 2023 for very large platforms, and on January 24, 2024 for the others.
Transcription of European law into French law
One of the objectives pursued by the bill defended by Jean-Noël Barrot is to transcribe this European regulation into French law, in order to allow better coordination and collaboration between the actors, and thus adopt common standards allowing stem the proliferation of false information.
This involves, in particular, making it compulsory to join this “code of good practice”, already signed by 42 organizations or platforms. These undertake to act to demonize misinformation, ensure the transparency of political advertising or even empower their users. They are also under an obligation to strengthen their cooperation with fact-checkers (or fact-checkeurs), for example by highlighting their publications on their platforms.
Entrusting sanctioning power to Arcom
To fight against disinformation, the bill also intends to give more prerogatives to Arcom (ex-CSA). Objective, according to the Minister Delegate: to deal with “the exponential increase in the amount of information available”, as well as “the industrialization and professionalization of disinformation and informational interference techniques”.
For this, the Arcom would obtain the ability to block fraudulent sites, but also to enjoin a website to remove sanctioned content within 72 hours. Otherwise, the platform could be fined 4% of its turnover.
For example, this measure could concern websites broadcasting on French territory the content of Russia Today, which has been banned from broadcasting since 2022 in the European Union. In all, the bill reports 12 foreign digital interference detected in France in 2022, including 5 concerning the presidential and legislative elections.
Once passed in special committee, the text will be examined in public session in the Senate between July 4 and 7. According to Jean-Noël Barrot, it should then be studied in the National Assembly in the fall of 2023.
#regulate #digital #space #misinformation