Did you know Google Says No to EU’s New Fact-Checking Requirements for Search and YouTube

 

Google has boldly declined the EU’s latest fact-checking requirements for its Search and YouTube. The company rejected the latest disinformation rules that asked it to add fact-checkers to search results and videos published on the YouTube app.

It also declined the use of fact checks to better rankings or delete content. This latest move defied the new rules in the EU designed to tackle issues like disinformation.

Google shared its perspective and decision on the matter by writing a letter to the European Commission. Kent Walker who is the company’s head for global affairs shared more about how fact-checkers are not reliable nor are they appropriate for the services rendered by the tech giant.

The new Disinformation Code from the EU happens to be a part of the Digital Services Act that needs platforms to entail fact checks with results shown by search and videos on YouTube. They would then include them in the ranking algorithm.

As per Walker, Google is currently using moderation tools such as AI Disclosures and SynthID watermarks that it feels are good enough to get the job done. A great example put in perspective was the elections that held in 2024 where Google defied the odds and could handle misinformation well, stopping it from spreading without the need for fact-checkers.

The tech giant also shared plans to get rid of any kind of fact-checking commitment it might have in the EU’s Disinformation Code before that transforms into a mandatory measure of the DSA.

We have to mention that the timing for all of this is very strategic. The rejection from Google arrives just a few moments before a series of major elections planned in the EU. For instance, we have the German Federal Elections in February, Romania’s Presidential Elections in May, Poland’s Presidential elections in May, the Czech Republic’s Parliamentary elections in September, and then Norway’s Parliamentary elections in September too. These will be a great test to tell how well the tech apps can handle the growing pressure of misinformation arriving without stricter measures.

Now we have to reveal that Google is not the only tech giant who is taking a step back from fact-checking. The matter is slowly becoming a trend in the tech world. For instance, last week we saw Meta share that it would be ending fact-checking programs found on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and beyond. It was also shifting towards a more crowdsourced structure that was similar to the likes of X’s Community Notes.

Even though both Google and Meta are staying away from active fact-checking measures, there is growing concern about how misinformation can spread during crucial events like the elections. Remember, critics keep arguing that these companies are not doing enough.

Their transparency tools might sound great but are they really foolproof is the question on people’s minds in terms of combating disinformation. For now, we can say that Google’s pushback from the latest EU call for fact-checking will give rise to a new divide between regulators and tech firms.