in mid october European Commission asked for explanations social network (formerly Twitter) about the use of the platform as a channel to spread illegal content and disinformation. Two months later, the European Commission went one step further and said: company Elon Musk thinking that it might violate Digital Services Law (DSA) has been in force since the end of August in areas related to risk management, content moderation, advertising transparency and access to data for researchers, among other issues.
“Today formal proceedings are being opened against him. “We now have clear rules, preliminary obligations, strict supervision, rapid implementation and deterrent sanctions, and we will make full use of our toolbox to protect our citizens and democracies,” the internal market commissioner recalled, Thierry BretonIt’s about the first such measure they’ve introduced under the DSA.
Preliminary investigation carried out so far by Community Management, including analysis of the risk assessment report submitted regarding the dissemination of illegal content in the context of Hamas terrorist attacks Did not serve to allay Brussels’ suspicions. It was therefore decided to initiate an in-depth investigation procedure “as a priority”. Although it “does not prejudge the outcome”, the regulations allow for sanctions of up to 6% of a company’s global turnover if European rules are found to have been breached.
“We take any breach of our rules very seriously and the evidence we now have is sufficient to formally bring legal action against X. The Commission will carefully investigate X’s compliance with the DSA to ensure that European citizens are protected as required by the Convention. Regulations,” the competition commissioner added in a statement. Margrethe Vestager.
four problems
There are four concerns that the Community Manager has. Firstly, compliance with obligations regarding the fight against the spread of illegal content in the EU, and in particular the risk assessment and measures adopted by the company to prevent the spread of illegal content in the EU. Brussels is also afraid of them breach of notice and Action mechanism for illegal content ordered by DSA.
Secondly, Brussels’ doubts relate to the effectiveness of the measures adopted by Musk’s company to combat the global pandemic. manipulation of information on the platform, in particular the effectiveness of X’s so-called ‘Community Grades’ system and the effectiveness of policies to reduce risks to election processes. Among the issues identified, Community Management also mentions the measures X has adopted to increase the transparency of its platform.
In particular, they point to its existence. “alleged deficiencies” Regarding researchers’ access to X’s publicly available data, Section 40 of DSA. Finally, Brussels thinks the social network may be using an “allegedly misleading” design in its user interface, particularly regarding blue checks, which are checkmarks linked to certain subscription products.