EU Requests Information from TikTok and Meta on Disinformation Spread during Israel-Gaza Conflict

The European Union (EU) has officially requested TikTok and Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to provide information regarding the potential spread of disinformation on their platforms during the Israel-Gaza conflict. This demand carries legal weight, unlike a previous request that was not legally binding. The companies have been given a week to respond, and if the EU is unsatisfied with their answers, it has the power to open a formal investigation under its new tech rules.

The EU is particularly concerned about the dissemination of terrorist and violent content, as well as hate speech, following Hamas’ attack on Israel. Last week, the EU contacted another social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), with the same concerns. X stated that it had already removed many Hamas-affiliated accounts from its platform.

Social media platforms have experienced a surge in disinformation regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, including the circulation of manipulated images and mislabeled videos. In October, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sent letters to the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, and Google, giving them 24 hours to respond. However, these letters were not legally binding requests under the EU’s new tech laws governing permissible online content. Now, under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the companies must respond within the specified deadlines.

Failure to comply with the DSA can result in substantial fines of up to 6% of a company’s global turnover or even the suspension of the platform. The European Commission has set two deadlines for Meta and TikTok. First, they have been asked to provide requested information regarding “the crisis response” by October 25th. They must also address questions about protecting election integrity by November 8th. Additionally, TikTok has been tasked with explaining to the European Commission how it is safeguarding minors online by the November deadline.

When the social media companies were previously asked to provide more information, Commissioner Breton emphasized that Meta needed to demonstrate that it had taken timely, diligent, and objective action. Regarding TikTok, he stated that the platform had an obligation to shield children and teenagers from violent content and terrorist propaganda.

TikTok has acknowledged the EU’s request and stated that it will publish its first transparency report under the DSA next week, providing more information about its ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its European community. The BBC has reached out to Meta for comment on the matter.

In summary, the EU has formally demanded that TikTok and Meta provide crucial information about the potential spread of disinformation on their platforms during the Israel-Gaza conflict. This demand carries legal weight, unlike the previous request. The EU is concerned about the dissemination of terrorist and violent content, as well as hate speech, following Hamas’ attack on Israel. Failure to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act can lead to significant penalties, including fines and platform suspension. The companies have been given specific deadlines to respond to the EU’s queries.