Official Information Request from the EU Commission to Meta
The European Union (EU) Commission announced that it has requested official information from the US-based technology company Meta about the measures necessary to fulfill its obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This request was made to understand whether Meta has taken the necessary steps regarding its obligation to provide researchers with access to public data on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.
In the statement, it was stated that after Meta removed the data tracking tool called CrowdTangle from use on August 14, the Commission requested more information about the alternative solutions the company offered to researchers after this change. It was also stated that information was also requested about Meta’s plans regarding the update of its observation functions on election processes and civil discourse.
The EU Commission emphasized that Meta should also provide detailed information about its content library and application programming interface. In this context, it was also noted that the EU had previously launched an investigation against Meta on April 30, on the grounds that it did not comply with the Union rules on combating misleading advertising and disinformation on its platforms. It was reported that the investigation in question is still continuing.
While it was stated that Meta should submit the requested information by September 6, it was stated that there was a possibility of taking interim measures and other measures after the Commission evaluated these responses. It was also announced that if Meta provides an incorrect, incomplete or misleading response to this request, it may face a fine.
The EU’s Digital Services Act, which came into force last year, introduced strict rules for major digital platforms. In case of violation of these rules, digital platforms can be fined up to 6 percent of their global turnover. In case of repeated violations, the activities of these platforms in the European Union may be terminated.
