According to the European Commission, tech giant Meta is taking too little action to combat incorrect information and possible interference on Facebook and Instagram. “The committee will not immediately strike a stick, but Meta will still have to adjust things before the elections,” says tech lawyer Lisette Meij.
Brussels wants Meta to tackle disinformation before EU elections
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The list of areas where things go wrong at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, among others, is long. According to Meij, disinformation through advertisements is one of the most important points. “Russia in particular is mentioned,” she says. ‘But Meta is also insufficiently transparent in how it reflects political content. And the company – coincidentally or not – now wants to phase out a tool that gives foreigners insight into data.’ In addition, a button to indicate illegal content is hidden so far that users have difficulty finding it.
‘Now that the elections are approaching, the rules are being applied more strictly because the risk of disinformation is increasing’
Nervousness in the run-up to elections
These are all points that the European Commission is anything but happy with in the run-up to the European elections that will take place in all Member States between 6 and 9 June. The ball started rolling when the Commission asked Meta to draw up a risk assessment itself last year. “Based on that, Brussels started asking additional questions,” says Meij. ‘And now that the elections are approaching, the rules are being applied more strictly because the risk of disinformation is increasing.’
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In theory, the committee wants to answer the questions it has asked Meta within five days. “Now she realizes that the company cannot solve those things so quickly and that it is willing to answer those questions,” says the tech lawyer, indicating that it could take a little longer.
‘So we are not immediately at the stage in which the committee will start swinging and imposing fines. But Meta will have to say quickly what it is going to do. And then the European Commission will judge whether it considers that sufficient.’
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Fine up to 6 percent of annual turnover
According to Meij, Meta will not get away without making significant adjustments. If the answer is that the company can only pick it up after the elections, then the committee will not agree to that, Meij indicates. And although this is not yet the case, fines are always possible. ‘These can amount to 6 percent of annual turnover, and could therefore amount to billions.’
