Major tech platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, have pledged to strengthen efforts to combat online hate speech under an updated European Union code of conduct. The revised framework, part of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), mandates stricter measures to reduce illegal and harmful content online.
Companies will collaborate with public and non-profit experts to monitor their responses to hate speech notifications, aiming to review at least two-thirds within 24 hours. Advanced detection tools and transparency regarding recommendation systems will also play key roles in reducing the reach of harmful content before removal.
The EU plans to track compliance closely, requiring platforms to provide country-specific data on hate speech classifications, including race, gender identity, and religion. These measures align with broader efforts to ensure accountability in tech governance.
EU officials emphasised that adherence to the revised code will influence regulatory enforcement under the DSA, marking a significant step in the battle against online hate.
Major tech companies, including Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, YouTube, and TikTok, have committed to tackling online hate speech through a revised code of conduct now linked to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Announced Monday by the European Commission, the updated agreement also includes platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitch, expanding the coalition originally formed in 2016. The move reinforces the EU’s stance against illegal hate speech, both online and offline, according to EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen.
Under the revised code, platforms must allow not-for-profit organisations or public entities to monitor how they handle hate speech reports and ensure at least 66% of flagged cases are reviewed within 24 hours. Companies have also pledged to use automated tools to detect and reduce hateful content while disclosing how recommendation algorithms influence the spread of such material.
Additionally, participating platforms will provide detailed, country-specific data on hate speech incidents categorised by factors like race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Compliance with these measures will play a critical role in regulators’ enforcement of the DSA, a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to combat illegal and harmful content online.
The European Commission has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China, accusing the country of ‘unfair and illegal’ practices regarding worldwide royalty rates for European standard essential patents (SEPs). According to the Commission, China has empowered its courts to set global royalty rates for the EU companies, particularly in the telecoms sector, without the consent of the patent holders.
The case focuses on SEPs, which are crucial for technologies like 5G, used in mobile phones. European companies such as Nokia and Ericsson hold many of these patents. The Commission claims that China’s actions force European companies to reduce their royalty rates globally, providing Chinese manufacturers with unfairly low access to European technologies.
The European Union has requested consultations with China, marking the first step in WTO dispute resolution. If a resolution is not reached within 60 days, the EU can request the formation of an adjudicating panel, which typically takes about a year to issue a final report. This case is linked to a previous EU dispute at the WTO concerning China’s anti-suit injunctions, which restrict telecom patent holders’ ability to enforce intellectual property rights in courts outside China.
Progress on the EU Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCS), stuck in a deadlock since 2019, remains uncertain as discussions are unlikely to advance in the first half of 2025. Despite efforts by Poland, which is leading the EU ministerial meetings until July, disagreements over sovereignty requirements continue to stall the process. The EUCS aims to help companies demonstrate that their ICT solutions meet cybersecurity standards for the EU market but has faced resistance, particularly from France, which wants to preserve its certification system, SecNum Cloud.
The European Cybersecurity Certification Group (ECCG) from ENISA has yet to provide an opinion on the scheme, with its next meeting possibly taking place in February. Poland plans to prioritise cybersecurity during its presidency, hosting key events like an informal telecom minister meeting in March and a conference on ENISA standardisation, though industry groups remain sceptical about a breakthrough.
Lobbyists, including the global software industry group BSA, have criticised the delays. They argue that cybersecurity standards should focus on technical protections rather than political considerations and have urged the Commission to adopt the scheme quickly to strengthen Europe’s cybersecurity resilience.
Further complicating matters, the EU Cybersecurity Act (CSA), which underpins ENISA’s authority to create certification schemes, is under evaluation but has not yet been revised. Of the three certification schemes proposed since 2019, only one has been adopted, with another for 5G still in progress. New EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has pledged to improve the adoption process for cybersecurity certification schemes as part of her mission to bolster Europe’s technological sovereignty and security.
Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed privacy complaints against six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, alleging illegal transfers of European user data to China. The group, known for targeting US tech giants like Apple and Meta, said this is its first case against Chinese firms. Complaints have been filed in four EU countries, seeking fines of up to 4% of each company’s global revenue.
Noyb claims that companies such as Alibaba’s AliExpress and Tencent’s WeChat transfer EU citizens’ data either directly to China or undisclosed ‘third countries,’ which are likely China. Under EU data protection laws, such transfers are prohibited if the destination country fails to meet the bloc’s strict privacy standards. A Noyb lawyer emphasised that China’s status as a ‘surveillance state’ makes such transfers clearly unlawful.
The allegations add to mounting regulatory challenges for Chinese tech firms. TikTok, already under scrutiny in Europe for election interference concerns, faces a potential US ban starting Sunday over national security fears. Regulators in multiple regions continue to ramp up pressure on Chinese companies amid growing global concerns over data privacy and security.
Apple’s latest charges for app developers are under fresh scrutiny from the European Union’s antitrust regulators. Concerns have been raised over the company’s new ‘core technology fee,’ which requires developers to pay €0.50 per installed app. Regulators are investigating whether the fee could increase costs for software makers or force them to change their business models.
The European Commission has circulated new questionnaires to developers, seeking insights on the financial impact of the fee and Apple’s claim that the changes will lower costs for most developers. The inquiry comes as major US tech companies urge President-elect Donald Trump to challenge EU regulations targeting American firms. Apple has not yet responded to the EU’s latest investigation.
Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple must comply with stricter rules on how it operates its App Store. The legislation allows regulators to fine major tech platforms up to 10% of their annual revenue for non-compliance. Apple, which has faced ongoing scrutiny in both the US and Europe over developer fees, says that 85% of developers using its App Store do not pay any commission.
The European Commission is reassessing its investigations into major tech companies, including Apple, Meta, and Google, under its landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to the Financial Times. The review, which covers cases initiated since March 2024, comes as tech giants urge President-elect Donald Trump to push back against EU regulatory scrutiny. Sources suggest Trump’s presidency has influenced the review, though it was not the direct trigger.
The DMA, implemented in 2022, seeks to curb the dominance of Big Tech by imposing strict rules on their practices and fines of up to 10% of annual revenue for violations. The review may lead to narrowing or altering the scope of current probes, with all decisions and potential fines paused during this process. Technical work on the cases, however, will continue.
This development coincides with Meta’s recent overhaul of its US fact-checking program and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s signals of a more conciliatory stance toward the Trump administration. Meanwhile, EU regulators are also examining whether Elon Musk’s social media platform X has violated content moderation rules, further highlighting the tech industry’s complex regulatory challenges.
The European Union is considering expanding its investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X over potential content moderation breaches. The probe, launched in late 2023 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), relates partly to posts following Hamas’ attacks on Israel.
EU Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen indicated the bloc is evaluating whether the investigation’s current scope is sufficient. Concerns have grown following Musk’s endorsement of far-right figures, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany candidate Alice Weidel, ahead of the country’s February elections.
The commission is also examining whether a live-streamed discussion between Musk and Weidel on X was unfairly promoted, potentially violating DSA rules by giving political advantage. X and the European Commission have yet to comment on the matter.
In July, EU regulators concluded that X breached the DSA, citing deceptive practices related to the platform’s blue checkmark system. Musk responded by welcoming a public legal confrontation to reveal the facts to European citizens.
The EU’s highest court ruled today that France‘s railway company SNCF must stop asking customers for their gender titles when purchasing tickets online. This ruling follows a complaint filed by LGBT+ rights group Mousse, which argued that requiring a title like Mr. or Mrs. violated EU privacy laws, specifically the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which mandates data minimisation.
Mousse contended that asking for a title, which reflects a person’s gender identity, was unnecessary and infringed on privacy rights. While SNCF justified the practice of personalising communications and offering services like women-only carriages on night trains, the court disagreed. It concluded that personalising commercial communications based on presumed gender identity was not essential for completing a rail transport contract.
The court’s decision, based on a previous opinion from Advocate-General Maciej Szpunar, allows companies to communicate with customers in a more inclusive, non-gendered manner. Mousse celebrated the ruling as a victory for LGBT+ rights, emphasising its potential to bring wider positive changes for equality across the EU.
The European Commission has rejected accusations from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that European Union laws censor social media, saying regulations only target illegal content. Officials clarified that platforms are required to remove posts deemed harmful to children or democracy, not lawful content.
Zuckerberg recently criticised EU regulations, claiming they stifle innovation and institutionalise censorship. In response, the Commission strongly denied the claims, emphasising its Digital Services Act does not impose censorship but ensures public safety through content regulation.
Meta has decided to end fact-checking in the US for Facebook, Instagram and Threads, opting for a ‘community notes’ system. The system allows users to highlight misleading posts, with notes published if diverse contributors agree they are helpful.
The EU confirmed that such a system could be acceptable in Europe if platforms submit risk assessments and demonstrate effectiveness in content moderation. Independent fact-checking for European users will remain available for US-based content.
