EU Warns Meta Over Illegal Content and Disinformation Targeting Israel-Hamas War

The European Union (EU) has warned Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, over illegal content and disinformation targeting the Israel-Hamas war.

The EU is concerned that Meta is not doing enough to remove illegal content and disinformation from its platforms, and that this is having a negative impact on public safety and security.

This warning comes after a number of reports that Meta has been slow to remove illegal content and disinformation targeting the Israel-Hamas war. For example, a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that Meta had failed to remove 90% of anti-Muslim hate speech on its platforms.

The EU is also concerned that Meta is not doing enough to prevent the spread of disinformation about the Israel-Hamas war. For example, a report by the Atlantic Council found that Meta had allowed the spread of disinformation about the war on its platforms, which could have contributed to the violence.

The EU has called on Meta to take a number of steps to address these concerns, including:

• Removing illegal content and disinformation more quickly.
• Investing in more human and technical resources to identify and remove illegal content and disinformation.
• Working with independent fact-checkers to identify and debunk disinformation.
• Increasing transparency about its content moderation policies and practices.

The EU has also warned Meta that it may face legal consequences if it does not take action to address these concerns. For example, the EU's Digital Services Act, which is currently being negotiated, could impose fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover on companies that do not comply with its requirements.

Meta has said that it is committed to removing illegal content and disinformation from its platforms. However, it has also said that this is a complex challenge, and that it is working hard to improve its content moderation policies and practices.

The EU's warning to Meta is a reminder of the important role that social media companies play in public safety and security. These companies have a responsibility to remove illegal content and disinformation from their platforms, and to prevent the spread of harmful content.

What can users do?

In addition to the steps that Meta can take, users also have a role to play in preventing the spread of illegal content and disinformation on social media. Here are a few things that users can do:

• Be critical of the information that you see on social media. Don't believe everything you read.
• Fact-check information before you share it. There are a number of reliable fact-checking websites and organizations that you can use.
• Report illegal content and disinformation to Meta.
• Talk to your friends and family about the importance of being critical of the information they see on social media.

By working together, we can help to make social media a safer and more informative place for everyone.