Source: European Parliament
The Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] lays out the rules for online intermediaries to tackle illegal content, while safeguarding freedom of expression and information.
The DSA does not determine what content is illegal. Rather, it imposes ‘due diligence’ obligations on providers of very large online platforms to conduct risk assessments and adopt appropriate proportionate and effective mitigation measures to mitigate the risks identified. This includes risks related to recommender systems.
On 7 January 2025, Meta informed the Commission that it had introduced Community Notes as a replacement of the Third-Party Fact-Checking in the United States. This policy does not currently apply in the EU.
In addition, Meta informed the Commission of changes to its content policy and political content control. These changes apply globally, including in the EU. The Commission has received ad hoc risk assessment reports in relation to these changes and is reviewing them.
In 2024, the Commission initiated formal proceedings against Meta under the DSA including in relation to the suspicion that Meta demotes political content in the recommender system of Facebook and Instagram and does not provide adequate data access to researchers.[2]
The Commission is monitoring the functioning of Facebook and Instagram in the EU to ensure Meta’s compliance with the DSA and has sent Meta several requests for information, including on the topic of recommender systems.[3] The Commission can open additional proceedings, should this be necessary.