What's happened
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, over concerns of failing to counter disinformation and protect users from foreign interference ahead of EU elections in June.
Why it matters
The investigation into Meta's handling of political content and suspected Russian influence campaigns is crucial as the EU aims to safeguard electoral processes and combat disinformation. The outcome could impact the regulation of tech giants and the protection of democratic processes.
What the papers say
The European Commission is scrutinizing Meta for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act, suspecting insufficient moderation and transparency in content handling. While Meta faces allegations of failing to address deceptive advertisements and disinformation, the company asserts cooperation with the EU. The investigation highlights concerns over the spread of misleading content and potential foreign interference in elections.
How we got here
The European Commission's probe follows rising concerns about disinformation and foreign interference ahead of the EU elections. Meta's alleged violations of the Digital Services Act have prompted formal proceedings, focusing on deceptive advertising, political content moderation, and election monitoring.
Common question
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Why has the European Commission launched an investigation into Meta?
The European Commission's decision to launch an investigation into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stems from concerns over disinformation and deceptive advertising in the lead-up to the EU elections. This move highlights the growing importance of regulating social media platforms to ensure the integrity of democratic processes.
More on these topics
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 kmĀ² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Facebook is an American online social media and social networking service based in Menlo Park, California and a flagship service of the namesake company Facebook, Inc.
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The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
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Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and originally launched on iOS in October 2010.