An EU official says Twitter is withdrawing from the alliance’s voluntary agreement against disinformation

LONDON — Twitter has withdrawn from the European Union’s voluntary agreement to fight online disinformation, a top EU official said on Friday.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted that Twitter had withdrawn from the EU’s “code of practice” on disinformation, which other major social media platforms have pledged to support. But he added that Twitter’s “commitment” remains with tough new EU digital rules coming into effect in August.

“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Brereton said.

San Francisco-based Twitter responded with an automated response, as it does with most press inquiries, and did not comment.

The decision to abandon its commitment to combating disinformation appears to be billionaire Elon Musk’s latest move to loosen the reins of the social media company after buying it last year. He has rolled back earlier rules against misinformation and thrown his vetting system and content moderation policy into chaos as he pursues his goal of turning Twitter into a digital city square.

Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta are among those who have signed up to the EU code, which requires companies to measure their work in the fight against disinformation and publish regular reports on their progress. regarding.

There were already signs Twitter wasn’t ready to meet its obligations. The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation bloc, criticized Twitter earlier this year for not submitting a full first report under the code, saying it provided little specific information and no targeted data.

Breton said that under the new digital rules, which include codes of practice, tackling disinformation will become a “legal obligation”.

“Our teams will be ready for enforcement,” he said.