The EU has opened investigations into Meta and X regarding election security and illegal content under the DSA, but no conclusions have been reached yet. Eko's findings indicate that the platforms are not enforcing bans on hate speech effectively, despite the DSA being in effect. The research suggests that the platforms are not voluntarily addressing these issues, and calls for stronger regulatory action, including pre-election mitigation measures to prevent algorithmic amplification of harmful content. The EU faces pressure from the U.S. to soften its regulatory approach, which could impact the enforcement of these new laws.
Key takeaways:
- Social media platforms Meta and X approved ads with violent hate speech targeting Muslims and Jews in Germany ahead of federal elections, highlighting flaws in their ad review systems.
- Eko's research indicates that both platforms are not properly enforcing their own hate speech policies, despite the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) being in effect.
- The European Commission has ongoing investigations into Meta and X regarding election security and illegal content, but no final decisions or sanctions have been made yet.
- There is concern that the EU may not fully enforce new regulations due to pressure from the U.S., and civil society groups are urging for stronger action to prevent tech-fueled threats to democratic processes.