ELECTIONS
During European and national elections, signatories of the Code of Conduct are implementing a rapid response system (RRS) to streamline the exchange of information between civil society organisations, fact-checkers and online platforms – as foreseen in the Code. This collaborative initiative involves both Non-platform and Platform Signatories to ensure rapid and effective cooperation and communication between them ahead and during the respective election period.
The rapid response system – which was first piloted during the 2024 European elections – is a time-bound dedicated framework of cooperation and communication among relevant signatories, which allows non-platform signatories to swiftly report time-sensitive content, accounts, or trends that they deem to present threats to the integrity of the electoral process and discuss them with the platforms in light of their respective policies.
Rapid Response System Q&A
What is the Rapid Response System (RRS) for elections?
The Rapid Response System (RRS) for elections is a time-bound dedicated framework of cooperation and communication among relevant signatories of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation. It allows non-platform signatories to swiftly report time-sensitive content, accounts, or trends that they deem to present threats to the integrity of the electoral process in the European Union and discuss them with relevant platforms in light of their respective policies. Flagged content is reviewed against individual social media platform signatories' policies, who are not committed to any specific enforcement action, and decide if and how they act on the flagged content.
What is the basis for the RRS for elections?
The RRS for elections is based on Measure 37.2 of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation, in which relevant signatories have voluntarily committed to establish a rapid response system to be used in special situations like elections.
What is the purpose of the RRS for elections?
During all European and National elections, signatories of the Code of Conduct activate the RRS to streamline the exchange of information between platform and non-platform signatories, as foreseen in the Code. This collaborative initiative ensures rapid and effective cooperation and communication between them ahead and during the respective election period. The Elections RRS only constitutes a time-bound mechanism for non-platform signatories to flag content during a given election period that runs in parallel to the general flagging mechanisms that platform signatories offer to users. Internal escalation procedures for each platform Signatory remain applicable and all flags under the RRS should also be notified through the general flagging mechanisms first. Flagged content is only reviewed against individual platform signatories' policies, who are not committed to any specific enforcement action.
How long does the RRS for elections remain active during an election period?
For each election period, the RRS will automatically open four weeks before voting day and close one week after the election concludes.
Who participates in the RRS for elections?
As part of the Code's commitments, it is the Code's signatories and the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) that have access to the Rapid Response System. However, the Code is open for new signatories to join. The participants that are non-platform signatories to the Code differs for each election – usually the non-platform signatories with specific understanding of the local context and language of the election in question participate in that particular RRS, including a local EDMO's Hub.
What is the role of the European Commission in the RRS for elections?
The Commission merely facilitates the process by providing logistical support. The Commission nor any other authority can flag content or accounts through the system – only the Code's non-platform signatories may do so.
Where can I find more information about the RRS for elections?
The signatories of the Code and participants of the Rapid Response System report about their activities in the context of elections taking place in the EU, including where it pertains to the Rapid Response System, in their periodic reports, which are publicly available through the Transparency Centre of the Code.
Are the meetings of the RRS open to the public?
No. The meetings related to activation of the Rapid Response System for specific elections are limited to signatories of the Code, due to the nature of this cooperation mechanism taking place under the scope of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation. The Code is however open for new signatories to join. Users can notify content and accounts that they consider may pose risks to the electoral process directly to the online platforms through the general flagging mechanisms they offer.