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EU finds Russian disinformation, says tech firms must do more


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EU finds Russian disinformation, says tech firms must do more

By Alissa de Carbonnel

 

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FILE PHOTO: Facebook and Twitter logos are seen on a shop window in Malaga, Spain, June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russian online outlets spread disinformation to sway voters in last month's European Union elections, the bloc said on Friday in a report calling for social media firms to take greater action or risk regulation.

 

The preliminary review of the European Parliament elections said there was evidence that both Russian and European online sources had sought to promote extreme views and polarise debate on divisive issues like migration and religion.

 

"The evidence collected revealed a continued and sustained disinformation activity by Russian sources aiming to suppress turnout and influence voter preferences," the report by the EU executive and its foreign service said.

 

Moscow has consistently denied it is targeting elections.

 

The EU report said some 1,000 cases were detected by a dedicated task force, whose staff was more than doubled to sixteen ahead of the vote. The unit monitors and fact-checks foreign news outlets but is not equipped with the tools of an intelligence agency to investigate cyber campaigns.

 

The 10-page report said there was no proof of "a distinct cross-border disinformation campaign from external sources specifically targeting the European elections."

 

Instead, EU officials cited examples of stories by Russian state-funded media - raising questions about how online content should be evaluated.

 

Some domestic political sources mimicked the tactics of Russian sources, the report said, and bots and fake accounts were used to amplify these efforts.

 

"It's not necessarily about breaking the law, but it is about attempting to mislead," Europe's Security Commissioner Julian King said.

 

FALLING SHORT

 

EU leaders will discuss the review at a summit next week. A final report is due later in the year after which EU officials said they will consider further regulation of online platforms.

 

Despite voluntary steps taken by Facebook, Google and Twitter and other platforms, the review puts pressure on them to go further, including sharing data on their efforts.

 

In response, Facebook higlighted the steps it has taken into safeguarding the May ballot, such as partnering with local fact-checking organisations and dedicating staff to monitor the vote.

 

"The fight against false news will never be over," Facebook said in a statement. "We are making significant investments to remove fake accounts and clickbait and to promote high-quality journalism and news literacy."

 

Google and Twitter were not immediately available to comment.

 

The report called on them to develop tools to vet websites hosting ads, ramp up fact-checking and increase transparency by giving researchers access to data and governments information on the malign actors.

 

It said stricter rules governing paid-for political advertising implemented by Facebook should be improved and rolled out to upcoming national elections across the bloc.

 

(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Alexander Smith and Elaine Hardcastle)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-15

 

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1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Moscow has consistently denied it is targeting elections.

 

Well, if that was good enough for our US president (aka, "the leader of the free world"?), when he was at that presser in Helsinki with Putin, then that's good enough for me.  No need for Pres. Trump to have listened to what his own intelligence community was advising him.    

 

After all, I understand that national elections in Russia are always free and fair.  So, I am sure they would apply the same standards to other countries.  Thus, the EU is safe from Russian meddling.  Just ask any of Russia's other neighbors.  ???? 

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Oh helpisgood I guess we don’t need nato anymore with the honest  and kind russans cause Donald says so lol not!!time to wake up everybody our cosey little world is in grave danger!

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47 minutes ago, Tug said:

Oh helpisgood I guess we don’t need nato anymore with the honest  and kind russans cause Donald says so lol not!!time to wake up everybody our cosey little world is in grave danger!

Only grave danger is when Trump opens his mouth.

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Britain citizens are fortunate they don't have to be exposed to Fox News misinformation.

The decision to pull out of Britain came amid scrutiny of Fox News from Britain’s telecommunications regulator, the Office of Communications.

Months after the channel was taken off the air in Britain, Ofcom said in a statement that the channel had broken broadcasting rules about impartiality by being largely pro-Trump and not offering alternative viewpoints.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/06/03/why-donald-trump-cant-watch-fox-news-britain/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.900bbef41c3e

 

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Just now, Srikcir said:

Britain citizens are fortunate they don't have to be exposed to Fox News misinformation.

The decision to pull out of Britain came amid scrutiny of Fox News from Britain’s telecommunications regulator, the Office of Communications.

Months after the channel was taken off the air in Britain, Ofcom said in a statement that the channel had broken broadcasting rules about impartiality by being largely pro-Trump and not offering alternative viewpoints.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/06/03/why-donald-trump-cant-watch-fox-news-britain/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.900bbef41c3e

 

I hate to break it to you but it's all disinformation and indirect state propaganda where "freedom of the press" really means "freedom to suppress".  Wake up.

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10 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

I hate to break it to you but it's all disinformation and indirect state propaganda where "freedom of the press" really means "freedom to suppress".  Wake up.

Who suppressed what?

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What does it matter whether it is Russia or internal sources planting information or disinformation?  Let's face facts, the internet and news organizations have become rife with opinion rather than factual information.  One need look no further than this website to see what people post as the gospel. Generally speaking it is foolish to believe anything anyone says about anything if you can't verify it yourself.  I do believe there is good reporting out there but when I look at what people post and repost on platforms like facebook, you just have to eventually turn it off.  If Russia plants disinformation on a platform like facebook is it any worse that a political party planting disinformation?  Disinformation is read one day and gone the next. In the past print platforms generally stood by what they printed or retracted if found incorrect. Now the print media is generally no better than the internet often citing anonymous sources.  Can't believe anything you read anymore whether it's the internet reporting or the print media.  That's the way things are in the 21st Century.

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31 minutes ago, Trouble said:

What does it matter whether it is Russia or internal sources planting information or disinformation?  Let's face facts, the internet and news organizations have become rife with opinion rather than factual information.  One need look no further than this website to see what people post as the gospel. Generally speaking it is foolish to believe anything anyone says about anything if you can't verify it yourself.  I do believe there is good reporting out there but when I look at what people post and repost on platforms like facebook, you just have to eventually turn it off.  If Russia plants disinformation on a platform like facebook is it any worse that a political party planting disinformation?  Disinformation is read one day and gone the next. In the past print platforms generally stood by what they printed or retracted if found incorrect. Now the print media is generally no better than the internet often citing anonymous sources.  Can't believe anything you read anymore whether it's the internet reporting or the print media.  That's the way things are in the 21st Century.

 

Is that, like, your opinion, then?

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