News Summary

The European Commission (EC) has preliminarily found tech giants Meta and TikTok in violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to inadequate transparency. The EC criticized both companies for failing to provide researchers with sufficient access to public data, which is essential for studying user exposure to illegal or harmful content. Additionally, Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, were identified for not offering straightforward mechanisms for users to report illegal content and to appeal moderation decisions effectively. The investigation pointed out that Meta’s procedures involve unnecessary steps that could deter users from flagging harmful content. Both companies have responded, with TikTok emphasizing its investments in data sharing and Meta asserting compliance with DSA requirements. The EC’s findings are part of ongoing investigations initiated in early 2024, with potential penalties reaching up to 6% of global annual revenue for confirmed violations.