'EU opens investigation into Meta over handling of Russian disinformation'

The European Union will soon start an investigation into Meta. The Financial Times reported this on Monday. The investigation is being launched over concerns that Meta is not taking sufficient measures to counter disinformation from Russia and other countries on its platforms.

EU regulators suspect that Meta's moderation policy does not go far enough in stopping the 'widespread publication of political advertising that threatens to undermine elections,” writes the Financial Times based on information from two insiders. The EU is particularly concerned about disinformation surrounding the European Parliament elections in June. The United Kingdom, Austria, Georgia and other countries around the world are also holding elections this year.

EU officials are also concerned that the mechanisms for reporting illegal content are not accessible or user-friendly enough to meet the Digital Services Act to be met. Under this law, online platforms must justify what steps they take to combat misinformation and propaganda on their services. The European Commission will base the investigation on documents that Meta provided to the EU in September, in addition to its own research.

The EU is expected to make its investigation official soon, sources tell the newspaper. She will not specifically target Russia in the announcement, but will refer to 'manipulation of information by foreign actors'. The Commission has not set a deadline for the investigation.