Disinformation and conspiracy theories on Facebook are out of
control -- driving violence, threatening elections, and tearing the
fabric of our social order. But Europe could
finally be on the edge of a breakthrough in dealing with it.
The EU is exploring legislation that could force tech
companies like Facebook to clamp down on the lies and hate
swamping the internet -- and they’ve launched a
public consultation to see what people think.
Profit-mad internet platforms are pushing for the weakest
regulations possible. If we don’t flood the consultation
with people calling for tougher rules, they’re sure to win
out.
Will you take a few minutes to fill in the EU’s survey and call
for tough action on Facebook? We’ve put together a
simple user guide to help you through it.
Yes
I'll take 10 minutes to fight hate and disinformation online
The stakes couldn’t be higher -- targeted disinformation
online has already stoked the far-right, helped put Trump in office,
even facilitated genocide. In India, dozens have been
murdered in brutal mob lynchings after racist lies and child
kidnapping rumours went viral on WhatsApp.
The internet giants say they’re taking action, but they still
profit directly from algorithms that promote shocking and
divisive content -- tech platforms make a billion
dollars a year from anti-vaccine followers alone!
Countries like the UK and Canada have promised to act on hate
speech and disinformation -- but they’ve been dithering. If
we can get the EU to take a stand it could finally push them to move
and set off a chain reaction across the world.
Tell
the EU to stand up to the tech giants
We know our community can work together to get Europe to act for
the wider good -- like when we won a historic ban on bee-killing
pesticides by flooding consultations and targeting key
decision-makers. Let’s do it again now and finally call time on
Facebook’s unchecked power.
