TikTok announced that it will launch a local language Election Centre in-app for the EU member states to prevent misinformation's spread ahead of the election year.

TikTok's Head of Safety & Integrity, EMEA, stated that the company would work closely with local electoral commissions, civil society organizations, and nine fact-checking organisations in the EU. Namely, TikTok aims to detect and remove misinformation, covert influence operations, and other content that may increase during an election period. Additionally, the company aims to focus on misleading AI-generated content (AIGC) by requiring content creators to label any realistic AIGC.

In 2021, TikTok initiated the creation of Election Centers in local languages. Notably active during European elections in Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain, TikTok collaborated with fact-checking partners to produce educational videos addressing the electoral process and misinformation. This included partnerships with Newtral and Maldita in Spain and Nieuwscheckers in the Netherlands.

Why does it matter?

The 2024 election year especially with the presence of AI has raised concerns over the spread of misinformation globally, with politicians calling Big Tech to ensure effective safeguards.

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton urged Big Tech companies to identify and counter AIGC. Additionally, Breton announced upcoming guidelines for very large online platforms, expected by March, specifying measures to counter disinformation during elections. These guidelines aim to ensure compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), outlining actions platforms must take to safeguard election integrity and address the inadequacy of current measures.

Recently, India's Minister of State for Electronics and IT has cautioned social media companies that they will be held responsible for the dissemination of AI-generated "deepfakes" on their platforms in accordance with strict regulations.