EU Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton, known for his fearless stance against the social media giants, is once again making headlines. He suggests that in the event of social unrest, the European Commission could completely block access to social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. This would happen under the rules of the Digital Services Act (DSA) if the platform operators do not take action against illegal content. But what exactly is behind this potentially controversial statement? Let's get to the bottom of the matter.
Breton's controversial vision: switching off social media
Breton made the comments in an interview with France Info, emphasizing the responsibility of platforms in the fight against illegal content. According to Breton, platforms are obliged to delete hate content that incites riots, violence or damage to property. Failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions.
Social networks: “If there is hateful content, content that calls for rioting or killing, for example […], the platforms are obliged to delete it. If they do not do this, they will be sanctioned immediately,” explains Thierry Breton
Réseaux sociaux: "Lorsqu'il y aura des contenus haineux, des contenus qui appellent par exemple à la révolte ou à tutor [...] les plateformes auront l'obligation de les effacer. Si elles ne le font pas, elles seront immédiatement sanctionnées" , declare Thierry Breton pic.twitter.com/1srbHyp9QE
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) July 10, 2023
Breton's idea to ban the operation of social media platforms in the EU may seem drastic. However, it is important to remember that the implementation of this plan would require multiple levels of control and investigation before it could actually be implemented.
Support from France: Macron's tough stance
Breton's vision is supported by French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron has in the past reflected on the use of these networks by young people and even considered bans. Macron believes that social media is radically changing the way young people deal with reality and therefore stricter controls are needed.
However, this tough stance has sparked heated debate in France. Critics point out that such strict control of social media could pave the way for state censorship, which has drawn comparisons to countries such as China and Iran.
The Digital Services Act: A pillar of digital regulation
The DSA is an important piece of legislation that sets out the regulation of digital services in the EU. To date, the DSA does not contain any provisions restricting access to online platforms. However, it allows the Commission to require major platforms to take measures to curb “serious threats” on their platforms.
Of particular interest is that as of August 25, 19 very large online platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter, will have to comply with new legal requirements. Failure to comply could result in penalties of up to six percent of global sales.
What the future holds: A social media stress test
In the coming weeks, the EU Commission wants to carry out a “stress test” on TikTok. The purpose of this is to check to what extent the company is able to comply with the new DSA rules. Twitter has already conducted such a test and Meta has agreed to complete the test shortly.
Conclusion: The debate over social media control during social unrest is complex and multifaceted.
While supporters of strict regulation argue that these platforms play a role in inciting violence and unrest, critics see the risk of excessive censorship and a possible violation of freedom of expression. What is certain is that the use of social media and its influence on society will remain an important and controversial topic on the political agenda.
Source: Heise
Also read: “Account support”: Facebook pages that mark you and point out hacks
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