EU Parliament concerned about weaker social media fact-checking rules

The European Parliament on Thursday said it is “deeply concerned” that relaxed fact-checking rules in social networks could benefit Russia.

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg recently announced changes to the moderation of online content. The company plans to end its collaboration with fact-checkers – initially only in the US – and introduce a system similar to X’s “community notes.”

A clear majority of European Union lawmakers condemned the move in a legally non-binding resolution.

The text was backed by 480 members of parliament, while 58 voted against and 48 abstained.

Lawmakers “want the European Commission and EU member states to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act in response to these announcements by Meta and X,” said a press release, referring to an EU law that lays out content moderation and fact-checking rules.

This is an important part of the fight against Russian disinformation, the press release read.

The European Parliament on Thursday said it is “deeply concerned” that relaxed fact-checking rules in social networks could benefit Russia.

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg recently announced changes to the moderation of online content. The company plans to end its collaboration with fact-checkers – initially only in the US – and introduce a system similar to X’s “community notes.”

A clear majority of European Union lawmakers condemned the move in a legally non-binding resolution.

The text was backed by 480 members of parliament, while 58 voted against and 48 abstained.

Lawmakers “want the European Commission and EU member states to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act in response to these announcements by Meta and X,” said a press release, referring to an EU law that lays out content moderation and fact-checking rules.

This is an important part of the fight against Russian disinformation, the press release read.