The European Union is looking into Meta (Facebook's parent company) concerning potential election meddling and foreign disinformation.
A source knowledgeable about an ongoing investigation has revealed that the focus is on how Meta deals with fraudulent advertising and election interference from foreign parties. The subject requested anonymity as they are not allowed to discuss the matter openly. The inquiry also examines the elimination of a frequently utilized tool for monitoring Meta's platforms by researchers and journalists.
The driving force behind the investigation is the fear of Russian disinformation campaigns that could jeopardize the transparency of elections.
This is the most recent demonstration of the EU's efforts to hold US tech titans accountable, following the introduction of a series of new regulations aimed at limiting their power.
The EU source suggested that Metaviolated the Digital Services Act, a significant piece of legislation regulating online platforms. A potential breach of the DSA could incur fines equivalent to 6% of Meta's global income.
The investigation's scope also covers whether Meta's decision to lower the ranking of political content on users' feeds conflicts with the DSA's transparency expectations. Additionally, the source claimed that Meta's tools for users to report unlawful material do not comply with the DSA's requirements.
The European Commission requested details from Meta last fall about how they manage the potential risks associated with their products. However, this investigation indicates the EU's skepticism that Meta has effectively managed these risks.
The crucial point of the investigation revolves around Meta's choice to discontinue CrowdTangle, a well-liked tool utilized by civil society organizations to identify prominent discussions on Facebook and Instagram.
CrowdTangle's discontinuation could reduce transparency into Meta's services, making it more challenging for users and researchers to discover foreign meddling in elections.
Meta announced earlier this year that CrowdTangle would cease to exist after August 14.
The EU source contended that ending support for CrowdTangle without a suitable substitute could hinder the ability to track falsehoods and voter suppression, potentially affecting the integrity of elections overall.
In response, a Meta spokesperson stated that the company will collaborate with the examination. "We have a well-established process for recognizing and addressing risks on our platforms," the spokesperson said. "We are excited to continue working with the European Commission and supplying more information about this work."
This story has been updated to provide more accurate credit and incorporate further reporting.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
