EU Launches Investigation into Facebook and Instagram Over Digital Regulation Violations

The European Union has announced on Tuesday that it is scrutinizing Facebook and Instagram for potential breaches of the bloc's digital regulations. Concerns include inadequate protection against foreign disinformation ahead of EU-wide elections.

The EU's Executive Commission has initiated formal proceedings to assess whether Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, violated the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA aims to safeguard internet users and enhance accountability on social media platforms.

This move by Brussels comes as part of its broader crackdown on tech firms following the implementation of the DSA last year. Previous investigations targeted social media platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), as well as ecommerce platform AliExpress. TikTok recently suspended a reward feature on its new app in response to EU pressure.

In response to the investigation, Meta stated, "We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms." The company expressed readiness to cooperate with the European Commission and provide further details on its efforts.

The Commission's inquiry focuses on Meta's measures to combat deceptive advertisements, disinformation campaigns, and coordinated inauthentic behavior that could disrupt electoral processes and harm consumer interests. Concerns also include the effectiveness of Meta's content moderation mechanisms, especially in addressing advertisements generated by AI, including deepfakes.

Additionally, the EU suspects Meta of engaging in shadowbanning political content and lacking transparency with users, potentially violating the DSA. Another issue under scrutiny is Meta's decision to phase out Crowdtangle, a tool used for real-time election monitoring.

With the EU elections approaching in June, officials are keen on safeguarding the democratic process. The Commission is closely monitoring Meta's compliance with the DSA, particularly in terms of user-friendly mechanisms for reporting illegal content.

Meta has been given a five-day deadline to provide information on any corrective actions it plans to undertake. EU authorities are committed to ensuring that digital platforms adhere to regulations, safeguarding the integrity of elections and protecting user interests.

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