Janice R. Andrews
Google has announced it will not comply with the European Union’s forthcoming mandatory fact-checking law. In a letter to the European Commission, Kent Walker, Google’s global affairs president, stated that integrating fact-checking into its services is “neither appropriate nor effective.”
The EU’s fact-checking regulation originates from the Code of Practice on Disinformation, which is shifting from a voluntary framework to a legally binding requirement. This initiative is designed to curb the spread of disinformation through rigorous content verification standards.
Google made it clear that it will not incorporate fact-checking into search results or YouTube rankings. Additionally, it will not use third-party fact-checking data to moderate or remove content. Instead, the company emphasized its reliance on existing tools, such as Synth ID watermarking and AI-generated content disclosures on YouTube.
Citing its performance during last year’s global election cycles, Google highlighted features like YouTube’s contextual notes, which enable users to provide additional information on videos. This initiative mirrors X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes feature.
Google’s stance reflects a broader trend among major tech companies. Meta recently announced the discontinuation of its U.S. fact-checking program, and X has significantly reduced its professional fact-checking teams. These actions raise questions about the commitment of tech giants to tackling disinformation amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.
In its letter, Google reiterated its preference for self-regulation, arguing that its content moderation technologies are more effective than mandatory fact-checking measures. Walker also highlighted the company’s continued investment in these tools as part of its strategy to combat harmful content.
The European Commission’s reaction to Google’s decision remains uncertain. However, as the fact-checking law comes into force, the debate over how to balance free speech, effective content moderation, and regulatory compliance is likely to intensify, setting the stage for a continued standoff between tech firms and governments.
