Tackling Disinformation: Going Beyond Content Moderation

Considering disinformation in a transatlantic context, authors from French think tank Institut Montainge, the GMF's Alliance for Securing Democracy and Stiftung Neue Verantwortung have drawn up some recommendations on how to tackle this issue. In a paper written jointly by the three organizations and endorsed by several experts from the field, one of the key findings is that potential solutions to disinformation should not only revolve around content moderation. In addition to looking at individual pieces of content, it is necessary to take into account behavior and distribution methods. Further recommendations include the auditing of social media platforms, creating rules for political advertising online and reinforcing international cooperation. The paper provides background on recent regulatory efforts in France, Germany and the US as well as a short analysis of transatlantic differences in handling free speech and disinformation issues.