EU Regulators Flag Transparency Concerns for Meta and TikTok
European regulators have raised preliminary concerns over Meta and TikTok’s compliance with digital transparency mandates. The European Commission announced Friday that its initial assessment indicates both tech giants may not be adequately facilitating data access for researchers, a key provision under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Digital Services Act Under Scrutiny
The Digital Services Act is designed to create a safer digital space and hold large online platforms accountable for their content moderation and data practices. A core element of the DSA is the requirement for very large online platforms (VLOPs) to provide researchers with access to public data. This access is crucial for understanding systemic risks and the broader impact of these platforms on society.
Researcher Access: A Key Mandate
The Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that both Meta and TikTok may be falling short in meeting this specific obligation. Ensuring researchers can independently scrutinize platform data is seen as vital for transparency and for assessing the effectiveness of content policies and algorithms.
Next Steps for Tech Giants
These findings mark a preliminary stage in the enforcement process. Both Meta and TikTok will now have the opportunity to respond to the Commission’s concerns and demonstrate how they plan to meet the DSA’s transparency requirements regarding researcher data access. The outcome of these discussions could set important precedents for digital platform accountability in the EU.
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