In a recent preliminary decision, the European Commission has ruled that Facebook and Instagram, owned by Meta, are in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations in the EU. This decision also implicates TikTok for failing to meet transparency obligations outlined in the DSA. The Commission’s investigation revealed that Meta has been creating barriers for users to report illegal content and challenge moderation decisions. The platforms allegedly use ‘dark patterns’ that obstruct the removal of harmful materials such as child sexual abuse and terrorist content.
Moreover, Meta and TikTok have been accused of having complex procedures that impede researchers from accessing public data. As a consequence of these violations, both companies are at risk of facing fines amounting to six percent of their global annual revenue, pending a final ruling by the Commission. They have the option to contest the findings or take corrective actions to address the identified issues.
Source: The Verge