Facebook, Instagram face EU probe for disinformation ahead of European Parliament elections

The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for potentially violating the European Union's online content regulations.

This investigation focuses on Meta's alleged inadequacies in handling deceptive advertising and disinformation in the lead-up to the crucial European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9.

Digital Services Act enforcement

According to EU digital chief Margrethe Vestager, the inquiry stems from concerns that Meta's content moderation practices do not sufficiently comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect last year.

The DSA mandates that big tech companies intensify efforts to counter illegal and harmful content on their platforms. "We suspect that Meta's moderation is insufficient, that it lacks transparency of advertisements and content moderation procedures," Vestager stated.

Specific allegations against Meta

The European Commission accuses Meta of failing to fulfill its DSA obligations, particularly in managing the spread of deceptive ads, disinformation campaigns, and coordinated inauthentic behavior within the EU.

Additionally, the Commission criticized Meta for not providing an effective third-party real-time tool for civic discourse and election monitoring, which is considered crucial for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Concerns over disinformation tracking

Another significant issue raised by the Commission involves Meta's decision to deprecate its CrowdTangle tool, a platform used for tracking disinformation, without introducing an adequate replacement.

This move has raised further concerns about Meta's commitment to transparency and accountability in managing content on its platforms.

Implications and penalties for non-compliance

Meta now has five working days to respond to the EU's concerns and outline the remedial actions it has taken or plans to take.

Failure to comply with the DSA regulations could result in hefty fines for the company, potentially amounting to as much as 6% of their global annual turnover.