Portugal implements swift reporting mechanism for combating misinformation
In a partnership spearheaded by Gustavo Cardoso, a sociologist and coordinator of MediaLab, and José Moreno, a researcher at the same institution, Portugal has initiated the 'Rapid Response System' (Sistema de Resposta Rápida) – a swift action mechanism designed to combat disinformation during elections.
This system, already utilized in multiple European elections, is used for the first time in Portugal, as an addition to the European Commission's existing Code of Conduct against Disinformation and the European regulation on digital services (Digital Services Act - DSA).
During elections, signatory platforms are obligated to establish a system for swiftly reporting disinformation activities that may affect electoral outcomes. Essentially, entities, such as MediaLab, can quickly flag disinformation cases that could potentially impact elections, directly to the platforms for immediate action.
The Code of Conduct against Disinformation, initially signed by multiple platforms, includes Twitter, but excludes the platform after Elon Musk's acquisition (2022). The code now encompasses all major platforms like Microsoft, YouTube, Meta, and TikTok, apart from the exception of the former Twitter.
Despite the significance of the former Twitter as a political platform, its absence is not as crucial as Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms that have wider social reach in most countries. The European Commission's collaborations with MediaLab are related to Iberifier, the Iberian Digital Media Observatory, which aims to combat disinformation and includes Lusa as a member.
The rapid response system for legislative elections in Portugal has been operational since April 21 and will persist until May 25, ending a week post-voting. The MediaLab team responsible for this project comprises Gustavo Cardoso, José Moreno, Inês Narciso, and Paulo Couraceiro.
In essence, the Rapid Response System focuses on the immediate identification and mitigation of disinformation, while the Code of Conduct and DSA offer broader frameworks for preventing and managing disinformation through voluntary commitments and regulatory requirements.
- MediaLab, in conjunction with Jose Moreno, has implemented the 'Rapid Response System' (Sistema de Resposta Rápida) in Portugal, aiming to combat disinformation during elections.
- This innovative system has been employed in numerous European elections but is being used for the first time in Portugal, complementing the European Commission's Code of Conduct against Disinformation and Digital Services Act (DSA).
- Signatory platforms, including Twitter, Microsoft, YouTube, Meta, and TikTok, are obligated to swiftly report disinformation activities that could influence election outcomes, following theCode of Conduct against Disinformation.
- Despite Twitter's significance as a political platform, its exclusion from the Code of Conduct is not as significant as the absence of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms with a broader reach in most countries.
- The European Commission collaborates with MediaLab in projects related to Iberifier, the Iberian Digital Media Observatory, which combats disinformation and includes Lusa as a member.
- The Rapid Response System for legislative elections in Portugal has been active since April 21 and will continue until May 25, concluding a week after voting.
- The MediaLab team responsible for this project consists of Gustavo Cardoso, Jose Moreno, Inês Narciso, and Paulo Couraceiro.
- The Rapid Response System is intended for immediate identification and mitigation of disinformation, while the Code of Conduct and DSA offer comprehensive frameworks for preventing and managing disinformation through voluntary commitments and regulatory requirements.
- Apart from disinformation initiatives, MediaLab may also delve into areas such as home-and-garden, business, sustainable living, technology, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, career-development, news, health-and-wellness, mental-health, therapies-and-treatments, nutrition, and finance—encompassing the broad spectrum of lifestyle and investing.
