Meta Under EU Scrutiny: Alleged Russian Disinformation Campaign Sparks Investigation into Political Content Handling
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over concerns about its handling of political content, particularly in light of a suspected Russian disinformation campaign. The probe comes just months before crucial European Parliament elections and amidst growing anxieties about online manipulation and interference in democratic processes. The Commission’s investigation focuses on whether Meta’s content moderation practices, particularly regarding political advertising and disinformation, comply with the bloc’s recently implemented Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA imposes stricter obligations on large online platforms, including robust measures to counter election manipulation and the spread of false information.
At the heart of the investigation are four key concerns. Firstly, the Commission questions the effectiveness of Meta’s oversight and moderation of political advertisements, particularly regarding their potential exploitation by malicious actors. Secondly, the probe examines the transparency of Meta’s processes for demoting political content and accounts, raising concerns about potential biases and lack of accountability. Thirdly, the Commission is investigating whether journalists and civil society researchers have adequate access to real-time data and tools to effectively monitor political content during elections, crucial for independent scrutiny and analysis of online discourse. Finally, the investigation scrutinizes the accessibility and clarity of reporting mechanisms for users to flag illegal content, a vital component of a robust content moderation system.
The Commission’s concerns stem partly from research conducted by AI Forensics, a non-profit organization specializing in identifying and analyzing online disinformation campaigns. AI Forensics uncovered a network of almost 4,000 pages disseminating pro-Russian propaganda across Meta’s platforms, reaching an estimated 38 million users between August 2023 and March 2024. Alarmingly, the research suggests that Meta flagged less than 20% of these ads as political, raising questions about the efficacy of the company’s detection mechanisms. The Commission believes that Meta’s current approach to moderating advertisements falls short of the DSA’s requirements, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of upcoming elections.
Meta has responded to the investigation by emphasizing its established processes for identifying and mitigating risks on its platforms, pledging continued cooperation with the European Commission. The company claims to have been actively combating the identified "Doppelganger" campaign since 2022, reporting decreased user engagement with the malicious content. However, the Commission remains unconvinced, demanding further information within five days regarding tools available to journalists and researchers for monitoring content during elections. Of particular concern is Meta’s decision to discontinue CrowdTangle, a public tool providing insights into content engagement on Facebook and Instagram. While Meta claims it is developing new tools with wider data access, the Commission remains skeptical about their adequacy and timely availability.
This investigation comes amid a broader push by the European Union to rein in the power of large online platforms and protect its democratic processes from online manipulation. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has underscored the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation, particularly during elections. The investigation into Meta underscores the Commission’s resolve to enforce the DSA and hold platforms accountable for their content moderation practices.
The potential consequences for Meta are significant. Under the DSA, very large online platforms (VLOPs) like Meta face fines of up to 6% of their annual global turnover for non-compliance. This investigation signals a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny of tech giants, reflecting growing concerns about their societal impact and the need for greater accountability. The outcome of this investigation will likely set a precedent for future enforcement of the DSA and shape the relationship between online platforms and regulatory bodies in the EU. It also highlights the escalating tensions between national governments and multinational tech companies over issues of content moderation, data privacy, and online safety. The case underscores the complex challenge of balancing freedom of expression with the need to protect democratic processes from online manipulation and misinformation.