The European Commission has previously found that Facebook, Instagram and TikTok do not give researchers sufficient access to data and make complaint and appeal tools for users too confusing.
The European Commission has previously found that Facebook, Instagram and TikTok do not give researchers sufficient access to data and make complaint and appeal tools for users too confusing.
According to European Truth, the EC’s preliminary findings contain several key complaints. First, the procedures for independent researchers to access data on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have unnecessary steps and limitations, which slows down inspections, in particular regarding the protection of minors from illegal content. Second, the Meta services' reporting and appeal tools are structured in such a way that it is difficult for an ordinary person to file a quality complaint: the system requires additional actions and does not always provide an opportunity to add explanations or evidence when a post is blocked.
The European Commission emphasizes that data for research should be provided in a timely and sufficient amount, as it is they that allow assessing risks — from the safety of children to the distribution of illegal or harmful content. Similarly, the «buttons» for reporting violations and a clear procedure for appealing moderators’ decisions should be transparent and simple. The regulator believes that these requirements are currently not fully met.
After the preliminary position is published, TikTok and Meta can submit written explanations or promptly change procedures to withdraw the claims before the final decision. If the findings are confirmed, the EC can officially record the non-compliance with the rules and apply sanctions — from multi-million fines to orders to simplify complaint interfaces, make appeals effective and open wider research access.
The EC is also looking at other platforms: the Commission is currently examining how Snapchat and YouTube protect minors and whether their mechanisms comply with the law. This concerns the EU Digital Services Act, a framework law that will oblige large online platforms to transparently moderate content, provide simple complaints and appeals, open data for research and undergo regular risk audits from 2023. The current case shows a shift from general rules to a substantive examination of how they work for people in everyday use.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how the European Commission has undertaken to update its approach to cookies: the plans are to remove intrusive banners and allow users to set preferences once (in the browser or OS) instead of clicking on each site.
