European Commission wants to know more about YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok
On October 2, 2024, the European Commission asked YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok to share detailed information about their recommendation algorithms. This is part of the requirements of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to ensure transparency of platforms and protect users.
What are recommendation algorithms and why is it important?
Recommendation algorithms are the mechanisms that show you new videos, stories, or posts based on what you’ve already watched or liked. The Commission wants to find out how these algorithms work and whether they can have a negative impact on users. It is about possible risks to mental health, the spread of harmful content, and how platforms influence social and political processes.
YouTube and Snapchat under the watchful eye of regulators
YouTube and Snapchat have to share information about how their algorithms work in the context of elections and public discussions. The European Commission is interested in how the content shown to users is selected and whether it could contribute to manipulation or the spread of disinformation.
TikTok and the fight against manipulation
TikTok, as one of the most popular platforms among young people, should tell how it protects itself from unscrupulous users who may manipulate content or use the platform for political influence. The Commission wants to know how TikTok copes with the spread of fake news and propaganda.
What threatens the platforms if they don’t answer?
Platforms must provide all the necessary information by November 15, 2024. If their answers are incomplete or misleading, the European Commission may impose fines and even launch formal investigations.
Meta is also in the spotlight
It’s not just TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat that are in the crosshairs. Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has already been under official investigation since April 2024. The Commission is investigating similar questions about how their algorithms work and how they may affect users.
What does it all mean?
These requests from the European Commission show that regulators are serious about controlling the impact of big platforms on our daily lives, mental health, and political processes.