EU Launches Probe Against Meta Over Disinformation Allegations
The European Union has initiated an investigation against US tech giant Meta over allegations of inadequate efforts to combat disinformation and foreign interference in the lead-up to the upcoming EU elections.
Focus of the Investigation
The European Commission is specifically looking into Meta’s policy regarding foreign advertisers and the discontinuation of a tool widely utilized by journalists and civil groups to monitor trends on the social media platform.
Violation of EU’s Digital Services Act?
Regulators are invoking the Digital Services Act, the primary law governing online platforms in the EU, in response to Meta’s actions. Concerns have been raised about Meta reducing the visibility of political content in users’ feeds, potentially violating transparency rules outlined in the DSA. Moreover, the company is accused of failing to provide adequate tools for users to report illegal content, another breach of the DSA.
Meta’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle, a popular tool used by civil society groups to track conversations on Facebook and Instagram, has also come under scrutiny. The tool is set to be discontinued after August 14, prompting concerns about the impact on civic discourse and electoral processes.
Potential Punishments for Meta
If the allegations against Meta are substantiated, the EU has the authority to impose fines of up to 6% of the company’s total global revenue under the Digital Services Act.
Meta has expressed its willingness to cooperate with EU authorities, emphasizing its existing risk mitigation processes. The company looks forward to providing further details to the European Commission regarding its efforts to address these issues.
Last fall, Meta submitted necessary documents outlining its risk mitigation strategies to the EU. However, there are lingering doubts about the company’s diligence in fulfilling its responsibilities.
Written by Vikrant Singh, Geopolitical writer at WION, focusing on Indian foreign policy and world politics.