EU Probes Meta Over Fears Of Election Interference, Foreign Disinformation

European Union (EU) officials are investigating Meta over concerns the company hasn’t done enough to protect upcoming EU elections or to combat foreign disinformation on its platforms, reported Brian Fung for CNN.

The new probe is focused on Meta’s handling of advertising by scammers and foreign election meddlers. I Photo: Anthony Quintano Flickr

The new probe is focused on Meta’s handling of advertising by scammers and foreign election meddlers, said an EU source familiar with the investigation. The probe also focuses on a decision to shut down an analysis tool widely used by researchers and journalists to monitor Meta’s platforms.

A driving factor in the investigation is concern about Meta’s ability to respond to Russian disinformation campaigns that could undermine election integrity, the source added.

The investigation is the latest example of European regulators flexing their muscle against US tech giants following the passage of a flurry of new laws designed to rein them in.

The EU source said the investigation highlights apparent violations of Europe’s signature law governing online platforms, the Digital Services Act. If confirmed, the violations could lead to significant fines of up to 6% of Meta’s global revenue.