EU to scrutinize major online platforms under new content moderation rules

These companies will be required to take down illegal content, hire adequate content moderators in every EU language, and send annual risk assessments to the EU's executive body detailing how they handle harmful content.

Non-compliance can result in hefty fines or even platform bans.

The EU's Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, expressed concern about Facebook's content moderation system and called for Meta to investigate and fix any issues.

The EU introduced the Digital Services Act last year to address tech giants' failure to combat illegal content on their platforms.

All websites will be accountable under the DSA, but platforms with over 45 million users will have to abide by stricter rules.

However, Twitter may struggle to comply after its CEO carried out mass layoffs across Europe and the globe.

Breton announced that the EU will carry out a live stress test at Twitter in June and proposed a similar test for TikTok.

The bloc will also evaluate whether other platforms should be classified as "very large online platforms." (ILKHA)