Google and its subsidiary YouTube have been issued a warning letter by the European Commission. The European Commission, aiming to prevent the dissemination of misinformation due to the Hamas-Israel conflict, reminded YouTube of its obligations under the Digital Services Act.
Preventing the spread of misinformation on YouTube!
Global events have their impact on social media, and the Hamas-Israel conflict has led to the widespread sharing of numerous images on social media. As with any event, a lot of false information circulates on social media platforms. To counter this, the European Commission sent a warning letter to YouTube.
In the letter sent to Google, the European Commission reminded them of their content moderation obligations under the Digital Services Act. It emphasized the need to prevent the dissemination of false information and illegal content on these platforms. The Commission stressed that companies need to increase their oversight in this regard.
If you’re unfamiliar with what the Digital Services Act (DSA) is, you might wonder. Below are YouTube’s obligations under the DSA.
- Content Moderation: YouTube must keep uncensored content, such as hostage videos, away from underage users and must promptly act when authorities flag content that violates European laws.
- Combatting Disinformation: YouTube must reduce disinformation and combat it, especially in the context of elections.
- Reporting: The European Commission demands a ‘fast, accurate, and comprehensive’ report from YouTube.
Overall, as of now, there isn’t a situation of penalties for Google. This letter serves as a warning for the companies to be more vigilant during this sensitive period. However, if the obligations are not met, YouTube and Google could face penalties.
