The Commission has requested additional details from Meta after the firm decided to phase out its CrowdTangle transparency tool. This recent inquiry from the EU into Meta’s operations comes via the Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulatory framework for online activities which allows for imposing fines for noncompliance that could amount to as much as 6% of a company’s global yearly revenue.
In April, the Commission formally charged Meta under the DSA, highlighting several issues related to election security, including Meta’s intention to discontinue CrowdTangle. This tool, which plays a crucial role in the monitoring and analysis of social media for journalists and researchers, facilitates the tracking of misinformation on platforms owned by Meta, such as Facebook and Instagram.
Concerns were particularly voiced over the timing of CrowdTangle’s phase-out, which was scheduled just before the upcoming European Elections, according to the commissioners.
This action seemingly led to a temporary reprieve for CrowdTangle within the EU. In response to the Commission’s concerns, Meta rolled out new features for CrowdTangle at the end of May. This involved the launch of 27 new visual dashboards, each corresponding to an EU Member State, aimed at facilitating the real-time monitoring of civic discourse and election activities, as per the Commission.
Nevertheless, Meta ultimately discontinued the dashboards and ceased access to CrowdTangle on August 14.
Critics from the research community have pointed out that Meta’s alternative tools offer significantly less utility than CrowdTangle.
The EU’s latest request for information to Meta seeks clarity on the steps Meta has taken to ensure compliance with the DSA, specifically regarding the availability of publicly accessible data on Facebook and Instagram for research purposes, and the company’s strategies for updating its monitoring functions related to elections and civic discussions.
More precisely, the Commission is seeking information about Meta’s content archive and API, focusing on access criteria, application procedures, what data can be accessed, and its functionalities. This scrutiny aims to determine if Meta’s solutions meet the transparency requirements of the DSA.
Under the DSA, platforms like Facebook and Instagram, identified as very large online platforms (VLOPs), are mandated to ensure external researchers can access their data to evaluate potential systemic risks within the EU.
Meta has been given a deadline until September 6 to furnish the requested details. The Commission stated that it will decide on the subsequent steps based on Meta’s responses, which might include intermediate actions and decisions on non-compliance, or acceptance of Meta’s commitments to address the issues raised.
Investigations into Meta’s strategy for election security by the Commission are still in progress.
The ongoing dialogue regarding CrowdTangle highlights the DSA’s influence beyond mere financial penalties. EU regulators are utilizing a variety of enforcement tools, including the initiation of formal processes and continuous demands for information, to adapt to evolving situations and apply pressure on major digital platforms.
Noteworthy is Meta’s decision to discontinue CrowdTangle in the EU even amidst ongoing scrutiny by DSA regulators.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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