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EU investigates Meta (Facebook & Instagram) over concerns about
Russian disinformation
campaigns and political ad transparency.
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Social media giant Meta faces scrutiny from the European Commission over
potential breaches of the Digital Services Act, particularly regarding the
handling of political content and Russian disinformation campaigns.
With crucial elections approaching in the EU, the Commission has launched a
formal investigation into Meta's practices on
Facebook and Instagram,
focusing on four key areas of concern:
1. Ad Oversight and Transparency
The investigation will assess whether Meta's advertising tools have been
exploited by malicious actors to spread disinformation and manipulate voters.
Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of Meta's oversight and
moderation of political ads, particularly in light of reports of a Russian
influence campaign operating on its platforms.
2. Political Content Moderation
The Commission is examining whether Meta provides sufficient transparency
regarding its moderation of political content and accounts. This includes
concerns over the accessibility of real-time data and tools for journalists
and researchers to monitor political content during elections.
3. User Reporting Mechanisms
The investigation will evaluate the clarity and accessibility of Meta's user
reporting mechanisms for illegal content, including disinformation and hate
speech. Ensuring users can easily report such content is crucial for
maintaining a safe and trustworthy online environment.
4. CrowdTangle and Data Access
The Commission has expressed concerns regarding Meta's decision to discontinue
CrowdTangle, a public tool used by researchers to analyze content engagement
on Facebook and Instagram. This raises questions about the future of data
access for independent analysis of platform activity.
Consequences and Implications
As a "very large online platform" under the DSA, Meta faces potential fines of
up to 6% of its annual turnover if found in breach of the regulations. This
investigation underscores the growing scrutiny of social media platforms and
their responsibility in combating disinformation and protecting democratic
processes.
