The European Union is set to initiate a new investigation into Meta regarding election policies.
The European Union to Investigate Meta Over Election-Related Content
The European Union is preparing to launch a new investigation into Meta over its handling of election-related content, as reported by The Guardian. European officials are concerned about deceptive advertising and political content, with details of the investigation expected to be announced soon. The EU has also expressed worries about Russia’s efforts to undermine upcoming European elections and other foreign interference campaigns, especially as the EU is gearing up for parliamentary elections in June. Any violation of Europe’s Digital Services Act could lead to substantial fines for the company.
Concerns About CrowdTangle Shutdown and Ad-Free Subscription Plan
EU officials are particularly troubled by Meta’s plan to shut down CrowdTangle in August, a tool widely used by researchers and fact checkers to analyze content dissemination on Facebook and Instagram. Many researchers and fact-checking groups have voiced their concerns through an open letter, stating that closing the tool before numerous global elections would jeopardize election integrity efforts worldwide. Additionally, the EU is investigating Meta’s ad-free subscription plan for European users, questioning whether the company is providing a genuine alternative for users to opt out of data collection, potentially violating Europe’s Digital Markets Act. Meta has assured its cooperation with the European Commission and is ready to provide further details of its risk mitigation processes.
