Meta monitored terrorism content in the EU

Ireland’s media regulator has taken social media giant Meta back into custody over its takedown of terrorist content – a ruling against Facebook on Monday. The Media Commission said the tech giant would have to take “special measures” to prevent its services from being used to spread terrorist content and report to the regulator on the measures taken.

The decision follows a similar decision by Coimisiún na Meán in November against Instagram, which is owned by Meta along with TikTok and X.

Irish authorities play a major role in regulating tech giants’ compliance with a number of digital rulebooks because of how many choose to locate their regional headquarters in Ireland.

The relevant part of Ireland’s online security framework, which Coimisiún na Meán applies in today’s decision, is an EU-wide law on the removal of terrorist content agreed by the bloc’s lawmakers. in 2021. It requires hosting service providers – in this case social media platforms – to remove terrorist content within one hour of notification. Fines under the regime can be up to 4% of global annual turnover.

“Under the terrorist content online rules, hosting service providers that have received two or more final takedown orders from EU authorities in the last 12 months can be identified as being exposed to terrorist content,” the Irish regulator said. press release. “A Coimisiún reached this decision (against Meta-owned Facebook) after being notified of two or more final cancellation orders against these providers and contacting them.”

It is not clear what kind of terrorist content was found on Facebook and reported to the regulator. We asked for more information. Meta was contacted for a response to Coimisiún na Meán’s decision.