EU announces consistent enforcement of rules for online platforms






In view of Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg’s U-turn on fact checks in his online networks, the EU has announced consistent enforcement of the rules applicable in the European Union. “Our job is to ensure that the rights of European citizens are respected and that our legislation is followed,” wrote EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen on Saturday on the online service X, which is owned by Musk. Outgoing US President Joe Biden condemned the meta-turn away from fact checks, initially limited to the US, as “shameful”.

The EU is concerned with “creating a level playing field and a safe online environment for everyone,” emphasized EU Digital Commissioner Virkkunen. “In Europe we want to create a digital environment that is safe and fair.”

A few days earlier, Zuckerberg had announced in a change of course that his company would discontinue the fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, but initially only in the USA. He justified this by saying that “fact-checkers were simply too politically biased” and “particularly in the US, they destroyed more trust than they created.” He accused the EU of “censorship”.

Zuckerberg announced that a system of “community notes” would instead be introduced in the meta services in the USA, in which users can add their own context to a post. The Meta boss followed the line of the tech billionaire Elon Musk, who controls the online service X. Musk, who represents right-wing populist views and spreads conspiracy theories, has been appointed government advisor by future US President Donald Trump.

In an interview on Friday with podcaster Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg appealed to Trump to protect big tech companies from fines in the EU.

Meta’s decision against fact checking was met with a lot of criticism. US President Biden said it was “really shameful”. “Telling the truth is important,” he emphasized.

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and the UN, among others, rejected Zuckerberg’s allegations against fact-checkers. IFCN also warned of far-reaching consequences and “real-world damage” if Zuckerberg’s announced discontinuation of the fact-checking program for meta online services in the USA was extended to other countries.

On behalf of Meta, over 80 organizations worldwide are currently checking the content on Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram. The AFP news agency also works with Meta’s fact-checking program from the online service Facebook in 26 languages.

In addition, Meta also announced the end of its internal diversity programs. The so-called DEI programs would be discontinued “against the backdrop of a changing legal and political landscape,” it said in an internal communication.

Manager Maxine Williams, who previously served in the role of Chief Diversity Officer, will take on a new role, it said. In addition, a program that gave preference to companies that observed diversity criteria when selecting suppliers will also be ended. “We are here for everyone,” the statement continued. Meta will continue to hire candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Diversity, equality and inclusion programs – abbreviated as DEI – are intended to ensure diversity among students and faculty, especially at US universities. Numerous large companies in the USA have also initiated such programs, particularly in light of the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2020.

Conservative politicians have been criticizing such programs for some time, arguing, among other things, that rather than overcoming divisions between different population groups, they reinforce them.

After Trump’s election victory, several US companies, including supermarket giant Walmart, car manufacturer Ford and whiskey producer Jack Daniel’s, announced the dismantling of diversity programs.

Apple, meanwhile, spoke out against a proposal from shareholders to end its diversity, equality and inclusion programs. A conservative think tank that came up with the proposal justified the idea by citing the potential lawsuits that would be threatened by diversity programs. However, Apple’s board of directors rejected this and recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal at the general meeting on February 25.

  • EU

  • Mark Zuckerberg

  • enforcement

  • USA

  • Fact check

  • Boss

  • Online platform

  • U-turn

  • Elon Musk

  • Henna Virkkunen

  • Facebook

  • US President

  • Joe Biden

  • Instagram

  • Donald Trump

  • Europe