European Union lawmakers agreed Saturday on a landmark law to force tech giants such as Google and Meta to rid their platforms of hate speech and other forms of illegal content.
The lawmakers reached a sweeping, provisional political agreement on the Digital Services Act after hours of deliberation.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen called the agreement “historic” in a statement.
“Today’s agreement on the Digital Services Act is historic, both in terms of speed and of substance,” she said. “It will ensure that the online environment remains a safe space, safeguarding freedom of expression and opportunities for digital businesses.”
Under the agreement, “what is illegal offline” in the European Union “must also be illegal online,” the European Council said in a statement on the agreement.
Illegal content is defined in the proposal for the law as “hate speech” or “terrorist content,” unlawful discriminatory content and content that relates to illegal activities, such as child sexual abuse. The proposal also includes efforts to ensure safety of products sold online and a memorandum of understanding to prevent counterfeit goods in online marketplaces.
The law will especially target “very large online platforms” with more than 45 million monthly active users, the European Council said. Those providers will face “more stringent requirements,” while smaller businesses will have exemptions from some of the new rules.
Large online platforms must also carry out an annual assessment on reducing risk in six areas under the new law.
As defined by the EU, those areas include dissemination of illegal content; adverse effects on fundamental rights; manipulation of services “having an impact on democratic processes and public security”; adverse effects on gender-based violence; adverse effects on minors; and “serious consequences for the physical or mental health of users.”
In particular, platforms will be prohibited from targeted advertising to minors using their personal data, while misleading interfaces known as “dark patterns” will also be banned under the DSA.
“In the context of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the particular impact on the manipulation of online information, a new article has been added to the text introducing a crisis response mechanism,” the EU said.
The mechanism will analyze the impact of the crisis in question and put measures in place to “for the respect of fundamental rights.”
If platforms fail to comply with the new rules, they may be fined up to 6% of their gross revenue.
Spokespersons from tech giants Google and Twitter told CNBC it welcomed the legislation’s goals, but also wanted to review the full details.
“We welcome the DSA’s goals of making the internet even more safe, transparent and accountable, while ensuring that European users, creators and businesses continue to benefit from the open web,” a Google spokesperson said. “As the law is finalized and implemented the details will matter.”
A Twitter spokesperson similarly said the company is looking forward to reviewing the details of the DSA.
“We support smart, forward thinking regulation that balances the need to tackle online harm with protecting the Open Internet — while also understanding that a one-size-fits all approach fails to consider the diversity of our online environment,” the company said.
“It’s Twitter’s top priority to keep people safe online and protect the health of the public conversation, and within the Digital Services Act, we welcome the increased focus on healthier digital spaces in the EU.”
The European Union announced the legislation in December 2020, including the DSA and a separate Digital Markets Act aimed at the restraining unfair marketing practices that stifle competition — the latter measure was approved last month.
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said in a video posted to Twitter Saturday the final form of the agreement is better than the proposal first introduced in 2020.
“It’s not a slogan anymore that what is illegal offline should also be seen and dealt with as illegal online,” Vestager said. “Now, it’s a real thing, democracy is back, helping us to get our rights and to feel safe when we are online.”
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The advent of removal of so-called “Hate Speech” began the sick twisted beginnings of media controlled moral corruption. When only the monopolized media gets to define what is hate and what is love with no recourse for equal debate, oppression and social contamination only could follow. Hate is a good thing when applied against the forces of evil, and ANYONE who tells you different is a very force of evil and corruption himself.
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”,,,which shows that even the God of love is no fool enough not to hate the very opposite image of his creating and created self. Way too many people are way too eager to love not the reality of evil persons, but love only their fallen potential for good, which is never achieved when the evil within them is not openly, lovingly and often challenged. “ Proverbs 15:5 – A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.” In terms of liberal defined “Hate Speech” One man’s voice loving challenge is another’s opportunity for silence and oppression. Do not be deceived. The more they try to silence your opinions, the weaker is their actual argument, and the greater the extent of their potential for evil.
“Hate speech” and “Illegal Content”. And exactly what person or persons, who think they share the Sovereignty of God, feel that they are worthy of making those decisions?? And upon what basis are we to trust their impeccable judgment??
WE can’t. THAT IS WHY i am firmly against bull like this..
Hate speech is only one persons opinion of another persons opinion, as defined by the one in power. There can be no freedom without free expression. The power granted to one group to suppress the thoughts and ideas of other groups nothing short of repression. It makes a mockery of the term “free world”.
As the phrase goes.. WHEN YOU SILENCE someone, you tell everyone else YOU FEAR what they are saying.