Today in TechREG, it was revealed that Big Tech firms signing up for a European Union disinformation code will have to share data with regulators about how they tackle fake news, deepfakes and fake accounts on their platforms. The code could be published Thursday (June 16), and companies will have six months to comply with it.
Meanwhile, Germany’s antitrust watchdog is scrutinizing Apple for its app tracking rules. United States lawmakers may vote on a bill before the summer recess that would allow the government to block certain investments in China.
EU’s Disinformation Code Will Force Big Tech to Disclose How They Tackle Fake News
Facebook, Twitter and TikTok are among the signatories of a new version of the EU’s anti-disinformation code that could be published as early as Thursday and would force companies to share more data about how they tackle disinformation. The EU’s anti-disinformation code may lay the foundation for the content moderation rules that will be imposed through the Digital Services Act (DSA). While this code is voluntary, it will be closely linked to the DSA as this legislation foresees the creation of codes of conduct to inform companies how to comply with the new content moderation rules.
Apple’s Tracking Rules Under Scrutiny by German Antitrust Watchdog
Apple is being investigated by Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (FCO) over the company’s tracking rules for third-party apps. The regulator opened an investigation Tuesday (June 14), and it is looking at whether these rules give it preferential treatment or undermine its rivals. Apple’s new tracking rules, introduced in April 2021, force third-party apps to ask users for permission before they track their behavior to serve them personalized ads.
US Lawmakers Push Bill That Could Block FinTech, AI Investments in China
Congress is pressing ahead with legislation that would propose the screening of investments in countries seen as adversaries, like China, to protect U.S. technology and rebuild critical supply chains. The bill, which counts bipartisan support, would require American companies and investors to disclose certain outbound investments, and it would create a new interagency panel to review and block investment on national security grounds.
Russian Lawmakers Consider Bill to Ban Crypto Payments
The lower house of Russia’s parliament is considering legislation that would bar cryptocurrency platforms from hosting purchases with crypto assets. The backers of the legislation specifically want to stop the use of digital assets for real-world transactions within the Russian Federation. Crypto could still be used for international trade. In addition to banning purchases with cryptocurrencies, the proposed law would ban the exchange of digital tokens as a means of payment.
US, UK Governments Collaborate to Adopt Privacy-Enhancing Technologies
Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) could play a transformative role in addressing financial crimes, according to the White House. Speaking at the Global Leaders Innovation Summit during London Tech Week in the United Kingdom, Julia Lopez, the minister for media, data and digital infrastructure at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, outlined how PETs can be harnessed to tackle global challenges — from the pandemic to human trafficking — by enabling insights to be derived from sensitive data, while protecting individuals’ privacy and proprietary information.
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