EU threatens Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with high penalties for lack of data!

EU threatens Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with high penalties for lack of data!

The European Commission has made serious allegations against Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, which it considers to be violations of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). According to the preliminary results of the investigation, the platforms' lack of data transparency is a central problem. The commission announced that if exculpatory materials or adjustments to the platforms are missing, there is a risk of high fines, which could amount to up to six percent of the company's annual global turnover. This reports vol.at.

Another significant problem is the difficulty of reporting illegal content. Users often have to go through confusing and potentially misleading steps to report violations such as terrorist videos or anti-Semitic texts. In particular, the options for users to complain on the platforms were criticized as inadequate. According to the findings, Instagram and Facebook in particular have a cumbersome system that makes it difficult for users to appeal bans or content deletion.

Further allegations and investigations

There are also allegations against TikTok, which belongs to the Chinese company Bytedance. It is feared that TikTok does not adequately recognize or limit risks to democratic processes and public debates. At the same time, Meta's low willingness to cooperate in Brussels, which has been evident in the ongoing proceedings for around a year and a half, is perceived as frustrating. This information also comes from zeit.de.

The platforms are not only under observation because of the problems mentioned, but additional investigations are also underway against Meta, particularly regarding the protection of minors. Pressure on platforms could potentially help implement improvements in ensuring faster removal of illegal content and the user experience when reporting such content.

Political reactions and outlook

Neos MEP Anna Stürgkh has called for the consistent application of the DSA and demands clear responsibility from platforms like Meta and TikTok. The next steps remain to be seen, as the EU Commission has not yet made a final decision as to whether there has actually been a violation of the rules. If this suspicion is confirmed, the implementation of the digital service guidelines in the USA could face resistance, particularly from former President Donald Trump, who has criticized the legislation as anti-competitive. Spiegel.de reports on these developments.