Europe (Washington Insider Magazine)— The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, citing concerns over possible violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) related to disinformation control.
EU digital chief Margrethe Vestager stated Tuesday that the investigation focuses on Meta’s moderation practices, including transparency in ads and disinformation mitigation. The probe comes as the EU ramps up efforts to combat disinformation in advance of its June elections.
Meta’s previous disinformation-tracking tool, CrowdTangle, was recently retired, and the EU raised concerns about its delayed replacement, Content Library. Meta responded by emphasizing its commitment to compliance and cooperation with EU authorities.
As one of 23 “very large” platforms under the DSA’s jurisdiction, Meta could face significant penalties, including fines up to 6% of its global revenue, if found non-compliant. The company has five days to report any corrective actions to the EU.
