‘Keep them off’ — EU issues stern warning to Facebook CEO

The European Union (EU) has raised concerns about the proliferation of “disinformation” on Meta’s social media platforms in the aftermath of an attack by Hamas on Israel.

The EU has given Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, a 24-hour ultimatum to respond and ensure compliance with European law.

According to the BBC, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton has called upon Meta to demonstrate that it has taken “timely, diligent, and objective action” to combat the spread of misinformation on its platforms.

It is noteworthy that the EU Commissioner previously issued a similar warning to Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), cautioning against the misuse of the platform for disinformation during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the letter addressed to Musk, Breton stated,

“Following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU.

“This is particularly relevant regarding violent and terrorist content that appears to circulate on your platform. Your latest changes in public interest policies that occurred overnight left many European users uncertain.”

In the letter to Mark Zuckerberg, the EU Commissioner has requested that Meta provide information within 24 hours about the “proportionate and effective” measures taken to counter the spread of disinformation on its platforms.

A spokesperson from Meta responded to the BBC, stating,

“After the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on Saturday, we quickly established a special operations center staffed with experts, including fluent Hebrew and Arabic speakers, to closely monitor and respond to this rapidly evolving situation.

“Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact-checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation. We’ll continue this work as this conflict unfolds.”

Furthermore, the European Commission has issued a warning to all social media companies, stressing that they are legally obligated to prevent the dissemination of harmful content related to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in the EU.