Major internet platforms including X, Facebook✴, Instagram✴ and YouTube have committed to European lawmakers to strengthen enforcement against illegal, hateful content on their platforms. This happened under a new agreement developed by the European Commission.
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According to The Verge, an updated set of voluntary obligations integrated into the Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations was introduced today to strengthen the moderation of prohibited content.
As part of the updated code, called the “Code of Conduct to Counter Unlawful Online Hate Speech+,” platforms such as Facebook✴, Instagram✴, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Dailymotion, Jeuxvideo, Viber and Microsoft. The document is an update of the original code adopted in 2016.
Among the points signed by the platforms are ensuring transparency in identifying and reducing hate speech, providing access to independent experts to monitor content moderation, and committing to reviewing at least “two-thirds of hate speech notifications” within 24 hours.
Commenting on the initiative, EU Commissioner Michael McGrath emphasized the importance of combating hate speech. “Hatred and polarization threaten EU values and fundamental rights, undermining the stability of our democracies. The Internet amplifies the negative consequences of hate speech. We hope that this updated code will be an important tool for effectively responding to challenges,” he said.
Despite the importance of the initiative, the agreement is voluntary and companies will not face sanctions if they refuse to comply with the obligations. An example of this comes in 2022, when Elon Musk exempted Company X (then Twitter) from the Disinformation Code of Practice, demonstrating that participation in such programs remains voluntary.