The Internal Market Commissioner of the European Union (EU)Thierry Breton, will make a video call with the CEO of Alphabet (parent company of Google), Sundar Pichai, and the CEO of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki, this Sunday (27), to ask that they do more to end the misinformation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said a European Commission official.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reported this Sunday (27) that Russian state-owned news Russia Today and Sputnik and its subsidiaries will have their concessions revoked to operate in the block. “[Esses veículos russsos] will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war.”
“We are developing tools to banish their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe.”
The EU’s call for digital platforms contrasts with recent bloc decisions. Europe has been playing the role of executioner of the Big Techs (a group of companies formed by companies such as Facebook, Alphabet, Amazon and Apple) by repeatedly imposing heavy fines against the main North American companies in the sector.
The fines refer to cases of breaches of data protection law and the right to privacy regulated by the European Union.
Putin restricts Twitter and Facebook
The largest American social media companies, such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, escalate the clash with the government of Vladimir Putin through the Internet.
O twitter — platform by which the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyhas been communicating domestically and with the international community — said his service was being restricted to some people in Russia. The company said it was still working to keep the platform safe and accessible.
On Friday, the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow said it was partially limiting access to the Facebookfrom Meta Platforms Inc, accusing the company of “censoring” Russian media.
The platform reacted. Facebook Security Policy Chief Nathaniel Gleicher announced yesterday (26) that he has banned Russian state media from running ads and monetizing on the platform.
“These changes have already started to be implemented and will continue over the weekend. We are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and will continue to share the measures we are taking to protect people on our platform.”
O YouTube, by Googlehas also blocked Russian state media RT and suspended its ability to monetize its content on the platform globally, the video giant announced Saturday.
The move to restrict RT and several other Russian channels comes after the Ukrainian government asked YouTube to cut off access from within the country, YouTube told CNN.
In a statement, YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi cited “extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine” for the company’s steps.
(*With information from Vasco Cotovio, Nathan Hodge and Brian Fung of CNN, and Bhargav Acharya and Elizabeth Culliford of Reuters)
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
