The European Commission has informed Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft that it will continue to publish monthly reports on its efforts to deal with fake news (especially news about COVID-19) for six months. 

Social media and online platforms have come under fire around the world for the spread of fake news, leading to requiring regulators to force them to do more or to face cumbersome regulations. 

The two companies as well as TikTok and advertisers have signed the EU Code of Practice to address the spread of false information on their platforms and must submit reports on their work within the first six months. 

The EU executive said that because these reports are related to the virus pandemic, the reports will continue for another six months. The two companies were told to provide more data on the way disinformation spread during the coronavirus crisis and its subtle impact on EU actions. 

Vera Jourova, Vice President of Value and Transparency of the European Commission, said in a statement: “The pandemic has become a breeding ground for false claims, and collusion theories and platforms are important sources of such information.”