EU Finds Meta and TikTok in Breach of Transparency Obligations

Strategic Insights -

The European Union launched an investigation into Meta and TikTok in 2024, finding that both companies had breached their transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act. The inquiry discovered that the companies had failed to provide easy access to data for researchers and made it difficult for users to flag illegal content on their platforms. The EU's executive body, the European Commission, stated that allowing researchers access to platform data is a fundamental transparency obligation under the DSA.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union's investigation found that Meta and TikTok had violated the Digital Services Act by failing to provide easy access to data for researchers and making it difficult for users to flag illegal content.
  • The companies were found to have used "dark patterns" or deceptive interface designs to make it confusing for users to flag malicious content.
  • The investigation discovered that Meta's Instagram and Facebook did not allow users to effectively challenge moderation decisions.
  • The EU's executive vice president, Henna Virkunnen, stated that the bloc is making sure that platforms are accountable for their services towards users and society.
  • Meta spokesperson Ben Walters said the company disagrees with the findings but would continue to negotiate with the EU over compliance.
  • TikTok spokesperson Paolo Ganino stated that the company would review the findings but expressed concerns about the conflict between the EU's transparency obligations and its strict privacy rules.

Statistics:

  • The EU's Digital Services Act imposes fines up to 6% of a company's annual profits for breaching transparency obligations.
  • The total potential fine for Meta and TikTok could reach billions of dollars.
  • The investigation was launched in 2024 into both Meta and TikTok.
  • The inquiry found that both companies had breached their transparency obligations under the DSA.

Sources:

  • European Commission
  • Henna Virkunnen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
  • Ben Walters, Meta spokesperson
  • Paolo Ganino, TikTok spokesperson
  • The Associated Press
  • European Union's Digital Services Act