European Commission initiates formal proceedings against Meta over Digital Services Act compliance

The European Commission has officially launched formal proceedings against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

This action scrutinizes Meta's adherence to regulations designed to protect European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation, especially during critical democratic elections.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the commitment to safeguarding democracy, stating, "This Commission has created means to protect European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation by third countries. If we suspect a violation of the rules, we act.” The investigation was catalyzed by concerns raised by Belgium and supported by Czech Prime Minister Fiala's active engagement at the European level.

The investigation focuses on several suspected infringements by Meta, particularly concerning the management of deceptive advertising and political content on its platforms. Key issues include the lack of an effective real-time civic discourse and election-monitoring tool, which became prominent with Meta's discontinuation of CrowdTangle, a tool that provided valuable insights into public discourse and election dynamics.

Additionally, the Commission is questioning the efficacy and user-friendliness of Meta’s “Notice-and-Action” system for flagging illegal content and the internal complaint mechanisms that are supposed to ensure fairness and transparency in content moderation.

Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, highlighted the risks of deceptive advertising, noting, " If we cannot be sure that we can trust content that we see online, there’s a risk that we end up not believing anything at all. Deceptive advertising risks our online debate and ultimately our rights as consumers and citizens.”

Thierry Breton, commissioner for internal market, pointed out the susceptibility of online platforms like Facebook and Instagram to the spread of disinformation and foreign interference, particularly in the run-up to elections. “We are launching formal infringement proceedings against Meta because we suspect them to be in breach of DSA obligations regarding deceptive advertising and political content and to fail to provide researchers, journalists and election stakeholders with real-time monitoring tools and effective mechanisms to flag illegal content,” Breton said.

The proceedings will involve a thorough investigation, including additional requests for information and possibly conducting interviews and inspections. This step empowers the Commission to enforce DSA regulations strictly, ensuring that digital platforms like Meta comply with their obligations to foster a transparent and trustworthy online environment.