Summary:
Facebook and Google pressured and "arm-wrestled" European Union experts to soften European guidelines on online disinformation and fake news, according to a testimony from insiders. The EU expert group met last year with the task to help prevent the disinformation, particularly during the European parliamentary elections.
Allegations:
- Some EU experts allege that representatives from Facebook and Google undermined the work of the European Commission expert group. The platforms opposed proposals which asked for more transparency in their business models.
- A number of insiders have raised concerns that close funding ties between the tech platforms' with experts on the panel may have helped with less stringent recommendations in place.
- EU politicians and transparency campaigners call these allegations against the tech platforms a "scandal" with German MEP Ska Keller demanding Facebook to "put its cards on the table".
Defence:
- Both Facebook and Google are yet to comment on these allegations.