Central and Eastern European Leaders Call on Big Tech to Combat Disinformation

Plea for Truthfulness on Big Tech Platforms

Leaders from Central and Eastern European countries have signed a plea to Big Tech to combat disinformation and prioritize truthfulness on their platforms. The prime ministers of Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, and Moldova released the letter during the White House-led Summit for Democracy in Washington. In the letter, the national leaders ask tech companies to devote more resources to respond to false narratives, adjust algorithms to prioritize accuracy and truthfulness over engagement. They also ask tech companies to clearly mark deepfakes and automated posts while coordinating better with governments and self-policing.

Reality of Disinformation in Central and Eastern Europe

The problem of disinformation in Central and Eastern Europe is dire, with smaller countries fighting hard to contain its effect on their societies. Moldova spearheaded the letter due to being a target of disinformation from Russia because of its support for Kyiv.

Ukraine and seven other central and eastern European nations have signed an open letter calling on tech firms to take action against disinformation on social media platforms. The letter calls for more transparency in algorithmic designs, sufficient staff and funding for content moderation whilst addressing the threat of deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation. The increasing use of disinformation is being used to destabilize countries and weaken democracies.

Meta’s Response

Meta, the parent company of Facebook has already taken steps to combat misinformation related to the war in Ukraine by using third-party fact-checking services as well as restricting access to RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik. Meta’s response is seen as important due to its prevalence in the region.

IOC Condemned Over Russian/Belarusian Athletes Participation Dispute

The Ukrainian Ministry of Youth and Sports has recently condemned the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutral athletes. The Ministry insists that representatives of the aggressor states should not be allowed at international sports arenas due to their continued aggression against Ukraine.

Building a Coalition Against ‘Wrong Decision’

The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has spoken out against the IOC recommendations and has said he will work towards building a coalition to seek the withdrawal of the “bad and wrong decision.” Several allies of Ukraine have also criticized the recommendations, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Kremlin Criticizes IOC Recommendations

The Kremlin has also criticized the IOC recommendations, saying that they contain elements of discrimination and that Russia will continue to defend the interests of their athletes in every possible way. Despite this, Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, has expressed his support for Russian and Belarusian athletes competing as individual neutral athletes with no national symbols.

While disinformation remains a key concern for Central and Eastern European countries, there is also an ongoing dispute over who should be allowed to compete in international sporting events. With tensions high, calls for governments to work with tech companies in combating disinformation are crucial in restoring trust within democracies.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons