EU gives Meta and TikTok formal Hamas disinformation deadline

The European Union has recently contacted both X (formerly known as Twitter) and Meta, TikTok, and Google regarding their concerns about the potential spread of terrorist and violent content, and hate speech, following Hamas' attack on Israel. Initially, the EU had requested these companies respond within 24 hours, but that request did not carry any legal force. Now, under the Digital Services Act (DSA), they have been given a week to respond.

If the EU is not satisfied with their responses, they can open a formal investigation and the companies may face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover, or even suspension of the platform.

Double Deadline 

The European Commission has set two deadlines for Meta and TikTok as part of the Digital Services Act. By 25 October, they must provide information on their "crisis response", and by 8 November, they must answer questions about protecting election integrity. In addition, TikTok must explain how it is protecting minors online by the November deadline. Margrethe Vestager previously asked Meta to demonstrate that it had taken "timely, diligent, and objective action", and stated that TikTok had an obligation to protect children and teenagers from violent content and terrorist propaganda. In response, a TikTok spokesperson stated that they will publish a transparency report containing more information about their safety measures for the European community. Meta has yet to comment on the matter.