====== EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation ====== //As of 1 October 2026. Information only, not legal advice – see the [[about:disclaimer|disclaimer]].// ^ Full title | Code of Practice on Disinformation (2018); Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation (2022); Code of Conduct on Disinformation under Article 45 of the Digital Services Act (2025) | ^ Type | Self-regulatory code (EU); since 2025 a code of conduct recognised under Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act) | ^ Adopted by | Signatory companies and organisations, under the auspices of the European Commission; integration into the DSA framework endorsed by the European Commission and the European Board for Digital Services | ^ Adopted | 2018 Code: agreed 26 September 2018, signed October 2018; Strengthened Code: 16 June 2022; endorsement as DSA code of conduct: 13 February 2025; effective under the DSA from 1 July 2025 | ^ Legal status | Voluntary for signatories; for signatories designated as very large online platforms or search engines, adherence is subject to the DSA's independent annual audit and may be considered an appropriate risk mitigation measure | ^ Official text | [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/code-conduct-disinformation|European Commission – Code of Conduct on Disinformation]] | ^ Subject area | Propaganda, disinformation and elections | ===== Overview ===== The Code of Practice on Disinformation was agreed on 26 September 2018 as a self-regulatory instrument following the Commission's 2018 work on tackling online disinformation. It was signed in October 2018 by Facebook, Google, Twitter and Mozilla and by representatives of the advertising industry; Microsoft joined in May 2019 and TikTok in June 2020. Following the Commission's Guidance of May 2021, a Strengthened Code was presented on 16 June 2022, signed by 34 signatories and containing 44 commitments and 128 specific measures. In January 2025 signatories submitted documents converting the Code into a code of conduct under Article 45 of the Digital Services Act; on 13 February 2025 the Commission and the European Board for Digital Services endorsed its integration into the DSA framework, and it has applied as a DSA code of conduct since 1 July 2025. The Code's website states that it has more than 40 signatories, including online platforms, search engines, the advertising industry, fact-checkers and civil society organisations. ===== Provisions relevant to the cyber and information sphere ===== * **Scrutiny of ad placements** – commitments to demonetise the dissemination of disinformation. * **Political advertising** – commitments on transparency of political and issue advertising (see also [[law:eu:political_advertising]]). * **Integrity of services** – commitments against manipulative behaviour such as fake accounts, bot-driven amplification and impersonation. * **Empowering users** – media literacy and tools for users. * **Empowering researchers** – improved access to data. * **Fact-checking** – cooperation with and coverage by fact-checkers. * **Monitoring framework** – a Transparency Centre, a permanent Task-force chaired by the Commission, and reporting obligations (very large platforms every six months, other signatories annually; first baseline reports in January 2023). ===== Application to cyber and information operations ===== Under the DSA, providers of very large online platforms and search engines must assess and mitigate systemic risks, including negative effects on civic discourse and electoral processes ([[law:eu:dsa]]). The Commission and the Board state that full adherence to the Code may be considered an appropriate risk mitigation measure for such providers. According to the Commission, a rapid response system under the Code was used during the European Parliament elections of June 2024. ===== Recent developments ===== * 2023-05-26: According to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, Twitter (X) withdrew from the Code of Practice. * 2025-02-13: The Commission and the European Board for Digital Services endorsed the integration of the Code into the DSA as a code of conduct. * 2025-07-01: The Code of Conduct took effect under the DSA; compliance becomes part of the annual independent audits of signatory very large online platforms and search engines. * 2026-09-24: Signatories including Google, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok publish reports for 1 January – 30 June 2026, the second round since the Code became a code of conduct under the DSA, with sections on crisis situations including the war in Ukraine and on elections; the Commission announced dialogues with all signatory very large online platforms and search engines on their subscription levels and engagement under the Code (European Commission). ===== Related entries ===== * [[law:eu:dsa]] * [[law:eu:political_advertising]] * [[law:eu:ai_act]] * [[law:un:disinformation_resolutions]] * [[law:hr:iccpr]] ===== Sources ===== * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation|European Commission, The Code of Conduct on Disinformation (policy page)]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/code-practice-disinformation|European Commission, Code of Practice on Disinformation (26 September 2018)]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/2018-code-practice-disinformation|European Commission, 2018 Code of Practice on Disinformation]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-endorses-integration-voluntary-code-practice-disinformation-digital-services-act|European Commission, Commission endorses the integration of the voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation into the Digital Services Act (13 February 2025)]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/code-conduct-disinformation|European Commission, Code of Conduct on Disinformation]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://www.disinfocode.eu/|Code of Conduct on Disinformation – Transparency Centre]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://techxplore.com/news/2023-05-eu-twitter-abandons-bloc-voluntary.html|AP via TechXplore, EU official says Twitter abandons bloc's voluntary pact against disinformation (26 May 2023)]], accessed 2026-09-30 * [[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/platform-signatories-publish-latest-reports-under-code-conduct-disinformation|European Commission, Platform signatories publish latest reports under the Code of Conduct on Disinformation (24 September 2026)]], accessed 2026-10-01 ===== Change log ===== * 2026-09-30: Entry created. * 2026-10-01: Reporting round of September 2026 added.