EU Takes Action Against Instagram and Facebook for Violating Illegal Content Rules

EU Commission Finds Meta and TikTok Using Deceptive Tactics

In a recent statement, the European Commission has accused Meta of creating barriers for Facebook and Instagram users to report illegal content and dispute moderation decisions. The Commission has highlighted the use of “dark patterns” by these platforms, which are misleading interface designs that make it difficult for users to remove harmful content, such as child exploitation and terrorist materials. Additionally, Meta and TikTok have been criticized for implementing complicated procedures that restrict researchers from accessing public data.

As a consequence of these findings, both companies are potentially facing fines of up to six percent of their annual global revenue, pending an official decision from the EU. They have the option to contest the Commission’s conclusions or take corrective actions to address the identified issues before a final ruling is made.