Meta’s new content moderation rules in the United States will not apply in the EU.
ADVERTISEMENTThe European Union is closely monitoring the decisions made by internet giants in recent weeks.
The statements by Elon Muskboss X, are causing outrage in Europe.
And Meta’s new content moderation rules in the United States are raising questions among the 27 of them, even though they aren’t affected.
Mark Zuckerberg has announced that he is replacing fact-checking with “community ratings” on his Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram platforms. He says it’s in the name of freedom of expression.
If Meta was tempted to change the rules of the game in Europe, it would first have to submit a risk assessment analysis to the European Commission.
“We don’t say what kind of content moderation policies should be put in place on very large online platforms. That’s their responsibility. If they want to rely entirely on community ratings, that’s an option. Now, whatever model the platform chooses, this option must be effective,” he said. is Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the European Commission.
Formal proceedings are initiated if the platform infringes Digital Services Act (DSA).
If this results in a non-compliance decision and the platform still refuses to comply, the fine can be as much as 6 percent of the company’s annual worldwide turnover.
In ‘extreme’ cases, more severe sanctions are possible
This procedure has been criticized for being too slow. However, the EU has other cards in hand.
“There are other instruments that can be used in extreme cases. And I emphasize extreme,” explains J. Scott Marcus, a researcher at the Brussels think tank CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies).
“Take, for example, the measures taken to block Russia Today and Sputnik at the time of the sanctions against Russia, at the time of the barbaric invasion of Ukraine. This was done as part of the sanctions regime implemented by the Council acting in its foreign policy configuration,” added the professor at the Center Robert Schuman.
The European Commission, the German regulator and very large digital platforms will meet on January 24 to discuss the regulation of European platforms ahead of Germany’s snap elections in February.
