Code of Practice on Disinformation in Romania: A Synthesis of SNSPA Research

A study done in September 2024 by the SNSPA research team has taken an in-depth look at how major digital platforms—Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok—are implementing the EU’s revised Code of Practice on Disinformation in Romania. By manually evaluating the responses from these key signatories, the study focused on three core pillars: Advertising and Political Advertising, Integrity of Services, and Empowering Users, Researchers, and Fact-Checkers.

In the area of Advertising and Political Advertising, the study found that platforms are making efforts to increase transparency and curb the spread of misleading content. For instance, Google’s data indicates that Romania shows a moderate rate of flagged ads and domains for policy violations, although the reporting remains too aggregated to fully assess individual enforcement actions. Meanwhile, Microsoft and TikTok offer mixed results, with some measures showing minimal intervention and Meta providing limited data, leaving gaps in our understanding of how effectively these platforms are managing disinformation in the ad space.

The Integrity of Services pillar reveals that while platforms are actively working to remove fake accounts and inauthentic content, the scale of these efforts varies widely across providers. The numbers suggest that despite ongoing initiatives, additional measures are necessary to better combat the challenges of misinformation and maintain a trustworthy digital environment.

Finally, when it comes to empowering users, researchers, and fact-checkers, the platforms are introducing tools to help identify and report misleading information. However, the effectiveness of these tools remains uncertain due to a lack of detailed outcome data.

Overall, the SNSPA research indicates that enhanced transparency and more detailed reporting are crucial for building public trust and ensuring robust protection of democratic processes. As digital platforms continue to evolve and the nature of disinformation changes, the study suggests that continuous monitoring and improved data transparency will be crucial for safeguarding democratic processes and public trust.