Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta and ByteDance’s TikTok have been given a week to provide the European Commission with data regarding the measures they have put in place to stop the spread of disinformation on their platforms, particularly surrounding the conflict in Gaza.  

The news follows the bloc's decision to open a probe into Elon Musk’s X – formerly known as Twitter – regarding similar concerns.

The request is the first procedure to be carried out under the EU’s Digital Service Act, which recently came into effect. The law aims to create a ‘rulebook’ for online platforms by regulating companies’ content moderation policies and advertising practices. It also requires that platforms share details of their algorithms with regulators and, in certain cases, with independent researchers.

“The widespread dissemination of illegal content and disinformation... carries a clear risk of stigmatisation of certain communities, destabilisation of our democratic structures...