Meta Platforms is bracing for formal charges from the European Union, accused of not doing enough to police online speech on Facebook and Instagram.
The problem is the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a law that gives regulators the power to decide what counts as “illegal” or “harmful” content (a definition that includes “illegal hate speech”) and punish companies that fail to take it down.
The commission’s move could lead to a fine of up to 6% of Meta’s worldwide revenue, though the company will be allowed to respond before any penalty is finalized.
Officials in Brussels argue that Meta lacks an adequate “notice and action mechanism” for users to flag posts for removal.
The charge sheet, expected within weeks, according to Bloomberg, builds on an investigation launched in April 2024.
What the EU describes as a duty to protect users is, in fact, a mandate that forces platforms to censor more aggressively or face ruinous fines.
The commission would not comment on its plans, but Meta spokesperson Ben Walters rejected the accusations outright, saying the company disagreed “with any suggestion we have breached the DSA” and confirmed that talks are ongoing.
The DSA covers every major platform with more than 45 million active users in the EU.
Meta is currently facing two separate probes under the law: one focused on disinformation and illegal content, the other on protections for minors.
Supporters of the DSA insist it protects citizens, but the law essentially hands governments the authority to decide what speech is acceptable online.
No fines have yet been issued, but the pressure to comply has already chilled open debate.
US President Donald Trump has blasted the rules, saying they unfairly target American companies and erode free expression.
