Twitter launches emoji for EU election in May
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Together with Facebook and Google, Twitter has come under pressure to do more to combat disinformation about the elections.
The Twitter application is seen on a phone screen August 3, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White |
All three companies have pledged to the European Commission to crack down on fake news to avoid heavy-handed legislation.
The emoji features a ballot box and a ballot paper in EU navy blue, with a tick mark on the ballot paper in EU yellow, all surrounded by the iconic ring of stars, which is triggered when the hashtags #EUElections2019 and #EP2019 are used.
“This emoji will encourage more voters to easily connect with the conversation, find out what’s happening and participate in the democratic process,” Karen White, Twitter’s public policy director, said in a statement.
The European Commission is keen to address the threat of fake news and foreign interference during campaigning for the parliament elections, as well as for national elections in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Poland and Portugal.