MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The spread of disinformation by recommender systems and other automated mechanisms as a systemic risk under the Digital Services Act – E-002826/2024(ASW)

The Commission is strongly committed to enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] to ensure users have more choices and information on recommender systems[2] as well as to mitigate risks to civic discourse and protect the informational space online.

Under the DSA, online platforms need to provide more transparency about the recommender systems they employ. Very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLOSEs) must provide an option for each of their recommender systems that is not based on profiling, and they must analyse and mitigate risks stemming from their service, including on the design and functioning of recommender and algorithmic systems.

The DSA is showing concrete results in this respect, with VLOPs taking measures to comply with the law such as the introduction of an opt-out of the recommender systems based on profiling, which means that recommender systems now must also be available without profiling users.

The Commission systematically scrutinises the algorithmic systems of VLOPs and VLOSEs. The Commission has sent several requests of information[3] and opened ten formal proceedings[4] regarding for example recommender systems, notably the risks linked to the coordinated inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation of the service or political advertisements.

Moreover, the Code of Practice on Disinformation[5], which is in the process of being converted into a DSA Code of Conduct includes several commitments that deal with manipulative practices, algorithms and recommender systems[6].

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (Text with EEA relevance).
• [2] As outlined in the DSA Articles 27 and 28.
• [3] Requests for Information: YouTube (02 October 2024 and 09 November 2023), Snapchat (02 October 2024), TikTok (02 October 2024, 09 November 2023, 19 February 2024, 29 November 2024, 17 December 2024), Meta (10 November 2023 and 01 December 2023), X (12 October 2023). Please find more information on the Commission’s Supervision of the designated very large online platforms and search engines under the DSA here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses#ecl-inpage-metaplatforms
• [4] Opening of proceedings: AliExpress (30 April 2024), Facebook (16 May 2024, 30 April 2024), Instagram (16 May 2024, 30 April 2024), TikTok (19 February 2024, 22 April 2024, 17 December 2024),X (18 December 2023) and Temu (31 October 2024). Please find more information on the Commission’s Supervision of the designated very large online platforms and search engines under the DSA here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses#ecl-inpage-metaplatforms
• [5] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation
• [6] These include recommendations on combatting coordinated inauthentic behaviour, influence operations and foreign interference and recommender systems, as outlined in Commitments 14, 15, 16, and 18 of The Code of Practice on Disinformation.