Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, is set to receive a statement of objections from the European Union for failing to adequately monitor illegal content. The tech giant risks significant fines for breaching content moderation rules, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, cited by Reuters.
European Commission highlights lack of an effective mechanism
According to the report, the European Commission is preparing preliminary findings stating that Meta’s platforms do not provide users with an adequate system to flag and remove illegal posts. Two people familiar with the matter confirmed these intentions.
Read also: Europe Facing a €1.3 Trillion Digital Divide: Vodafone’s Solution, Digital Inclusion
Risk of a massive fine
The European Union has tightened its pressure on Big Tech companies through the Digital Services Act (DSA). This law requires large platforms to implement strong measures to curb the spread of illegal and harmful content. If the accusations are confirmed, Meta could face a fine of up to 6% of its annual global revenue.
Facebook and Instagram are also under investigation for allegedly failing to tackle disinformation and misleading advertising in the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections. Meta and the European Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Photo: reuters.com
