The European Commission recently launched a formal investigation into Meta to determine whether the company is adequately moderating political content, illegal content, and disinformation on Facebook and Instagram. This probe comes in response to a surge in online pro-Russian propaganda leading up to the EU elections in early June. The investigation is centered around potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to create a safer online environment for users.
The European Commission raised concerns about Meta’s handling of disinformation campaigns and “coordinated inauthentic behavior” within the EU. Additionally, the lack of effective third-party tools for monitoring elections and civic discourse in real-time was highlighted, with specific attention to Meta’s decision to discontinue CrowdTangle without a suitable alternative. The Commission is particularly worried about the impact of Russian propaganda on democratic processes in EU countries.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of protecting European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation by third countries. She stated that the Commission takes violations of regulations seriously, especially during democratic elections. Von der Leyen highlighted the need for digital platforms to allocate adequate resources to combat disinformation, reiterating that safeguarding democracies is a collective effort with Member States.
The investigation will assess Meta’s moderation of deceptive advertising, policies that impact the visibility of political content on Instagram and Facebook, and the effectiveness of mechanisms for users to report illegal content. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager raised concerns about deceptive advertising affecting online discourse and individual rights as consumers and citizens. The Commission stressed that trust in online content is essential to prevent widespread skepticism and misinformation.
The European Commission has not set a deadline for the investigation, but if Meta is found in violation of the DSA and fails to address the issues, the company could face fines of up to 6 percent of its annual turnover. This financial penalty underscores the seriousness with which the Commission regards violations of regulations aimed at protecting online users and democratic processes from external interference.
The formal investigation launched by the European Commission against Meta highlights the growing concerns surrounding online disinformation, political manipulation, and deceptive advertising. As digital platforms play an increasingly significant role in shaping public discourse, it is imperative for companies like Meta to prioritize the moderation of content and the protection of user rights. The outcome of this probe will likely have far-reaching implications for how social media companies operate within the EU and beyond.