The Commission says that the reports give a good overview of action taken by the online platforms during the month of September, and demonstrate willingness to provide increased transparency around their policies on coronavirus disinformation. However, the Commission says that the reporting still lacks appropriate granularity in data, including on the impact of their policies, to ensure sufficient transparency and public accountability and enable consistent monitoring.

The monthly reporting programme is a deliverable under the 10 June 2020 Joint Communication to ensure accountability towards the public of the efforts made by platforms and relevant industry associations to limit online disinformation related to coronavirus. This third report focuses on actions taken in September 2020 by the Code’s platform signatories, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and TikTok. The Commission says that it will deliver on its comprehensive approach against disinformation by presenting two complementary initiatives by the end of the year: a European Democracy Action Plan and a Digital Services Act package. To read the Commission’s press release in full, click here.