The Never-Ending Saga of Google and EU Regulations
When it comes to tech giants facing scrutiny, Google often finds itself in the spotlight—especially within the European Union. With regulators ready to crack down, the latest development surrounding the company’s stance on fact-checking laws could have significant implications.
A Stubborn Streak Against New Laws
In a recent report, Google has revealed that it will not be adhering to an upcoming fact-checking law proposed by the EU. According to Kent Walker, Google’s Global Affairs President, the integration of fact-checking as outlined in the new disinformation code of practice is “simply not appropriate or effective for our services.” In other words, don’t hold your breath for fact-checks making their way into search results or YouTube videos anytime soon.
What Lies Ahead for the Tech Giant?
Google maintains that it has never taken a proactive approach to fact-checking within its content moderation strategy. However, it did lend support to a European fact-checking database ahead of recent elections. This raises eyebrows when considering their current refusal to comply with the new regulations. With Meta recently announcing the end of its fact-checking program in the U.S., it’s uncertain whether Mark Zuckerberg will yield to EU expectations. As for X, it has already scaled back its reliance on professional fact-checkers.
The question now looms: What will be the EU’s response when digital fact-checking becomes a legal necessity? If history serves as a guide, fines and investigations could be just around the corner for the search engine titan.
