Social challenges
Disinformation undermines public debate and erodes the open economy, public health, national security and trust. More than half of the Dutch population consumes news through major online platforms. Platforms currently still take insufficient responsibility for reducing the spread of disinformation. It is important to the government that measures imposed by platforms and national and European legislative proposals do not compromise fundamental rights such as freedom of expression but safeguard them instead. (Disinformation is false, inaccurate or misleading information intentionally created and disseminated to make money or harm a person, social group, organisation or country. Deep fakes are an example of disinformation.)
Results achieved by 2023
- The DSA has been developed within the context of the EU and clarifies the responsibilities platforms have in combatting criminal and unlawful material spread through their services.
- The major platforms have signed the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation (EUCoD), and it is mandatory. The code aims to reduce the negative impact of deep fakes, increase collaboration between fact-checkers, increase transparency in political advertising, detect botnets and provide the scientific community with better access to data.
- The website isdatechtzo.nl was developed at the behest of BZK as a means of informing visitors about the impact of fake news and how to identify it.
- A new government-wide disinformation strategy was sent to the House of Representatives in late 2022. In November 2023, the House was briefed on the resilience of the electoral process, and measures were discussed to combat disinformation surrounding the electoral process.
Goals & indicators
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1. The government stimulates healthy online debate:
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2.
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What are our forthcoming actions?
To find out the goals we are setting for the upcoming year to reduce the impact of online disinformation, see priority 2.2 actions.
