EU gives Meta, TikTok a week to detail their measures against disinformation

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The European Commission on Thursday gave a week to tech giants Meta and TikTok to provide details on the measures taken to prevent terrorist, violent and hateful content from circulating on their platforms amid intensifying conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.

The EU executive body said it formally sent a request of information to the both companies on their risk assessments and mitigation measures on dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Both Meta and TikTok were asked to provide requested information "to the Commission by 25 October 2023 for questions related to the crisis response and by 8 November 2023 on the protection of the integrity of elections."

The conflict in Gaza, which is under Israeli bombardment and blockade, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Since then, misinformation and violent content surrounding the conflict has proliferated online.