The European Commission in Brussels has launched an investigation into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for alleged violations related to misleading advertising and political content on its services. The EU Executive stated that this investigation falls under the digital services regulation, which imposes additional control obligations on large Internet operators and platforms regarding the content they host.
The Vice President of the Commission, Vera Jourova, has emphasized the importance for technology companies to take their responsibility seriously and comply with regulations to mitigate risks to civic discourse, electoral processes, and consumer protection. For several months, European authorities have been urging large digital platforms to increase vigilance against disinformation and propaganda, especially in the lead-up to the European elections.
The European Commission suspects that Meta has not met its obligations under the regulation to combat misleading advertisements, disinformation campaigns, and inauthentic behavior in the EU. They also raise concerns about Meta’s actions regarding political content on Instagram and Facebook and claim that the company’s approach may not comply with transparency and user protection requirements. One of the issues that has sparked criticism from the Commission is Meta’s decision to eliminate a tool that allows third parties to monitor elections in real time without providing a suitable substitute.
If any violations are proven, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its global turnover. The investigation into Meta’s activities in the EU can continue for an indefinite period, and if necessary, provisional control measures may be imposed by the Commission if they believe that violations pose a serious risk to users. The Commission may order increased monitoring of content or orders to cease violations if they find evidence of non-compliance with regulations.
In conclusion, this new investigation launched by the European Commission against Meta highlights once again how important it is for technology companies like Facebook and Instagram to ensure transparency and user protection while complying with regulations related to disinformation campaigns and political content on their services. If proven guilty of these alleged violations, Meta could face significant financial penalties as well as further scrutiny from regulatory authorities.
