The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to assess its efforts in moderating political content, illegal content, and disinformation on its platforms. The probe comes amidst a surge in online pro-Russian propaganda leading up to the EU elections in early June. The European Commission expressed concerns that Meta may have violated the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of EU rules designed to safeguard users and promote safer online environments.
The investigation is expected to delve into Meta’s strategies for addressing disinformation campaigns and “coordinated inauthentic behavior” within the EU. Of particular interest is the lack of effective third-party tools for monitoring elections and civic discourse in real-time, with a specific focus on Meta’s decision to phase out CrowdTangle without a suitable replacement. European leaders have voiced urgency in countering Russian attempts to influence democratic processes in EU countries, especially with the imminent elections on the horizon.
In response to the probe, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of upholding regulations and protecting European citizens from targeted disinformation. She stressed the need for big digital platforms like Meta to invest adequate resources in maintaining a safe online environment. Von der Leyen reiterated that safeguarding democracies is a collective effort involving both the European Commission and Member States.
The investigation will also scrutinize how Meta handles deceptive advertising, the policies governing the visibility of political content on Facebook and Instagram, and the effectiveness of mechanisms for users to report illegal content. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager highlighted the risks associated with deceptive advertising, emphasizing its impact on online discourse and the rights of consumers and citizens. The European Commission aims to ensure that users can trust the content they encounter online to prevent a breakdown of trust in information.
As of now, the European Commission has not set a deadline for the investigation into Meta’s practices. If Meta is found to be non-compliant with the DSA and fails to address the identified issues, it could face fines amounting to up to 6 percent of its annual turnover. The outcome of the investigation will have significant implications for Meta and may prompt the company to reevaluate its approach to content moderation and user safety on its platforms.
Leave a Reply