A new investigation has been launched by the European Commission against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, based in Brussels. This investigation is focused on alleged violations of policies related to misleading advertising and political content in the services provided by Meta. The EU Executive has stated that these investigations fall under the digital services regulation, which imposes additional control obligations on large Internet operators and platforms regarding the content they host.
The investigation launched by Brussels is multifaceted. It includes suspicions that Meta is not complying with obligations related to combating misleading advertisements, disinformation campaigns, and coordinated inauthentic behavior in the EU. This proliferation of content poses risks to civic discourse, electoral processes, fundamental rights, and consumer protection. Additionally, Meta’s actions regarding political content approaches on Facebook and Instagram are being scrutinized for potential violations of European standards.
One specific concern highlighted by the Commission is Meta’s decision to eliminate a tool that allows third parties to monitor elections in real time without providing a substitute tool. With the European elections approaching, the lack of access to such tools during election times is seen as detrimental to civic discourse, electoral processes, and transparency. The investigation may continue for an indefinite period, during which the company may be requested to provide more information or undergo interviews until a definitive conclusion is reached. If the infringement is proven, Meta could face fines up to 6% of its global turnover.
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