The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against Facebook and Instagram over concerns the online platforms are not doing enough to counter the spread of election disinformation.

The commission has announced it will carry out an investigation against Meta, the parent company of social media apps Facebook and Instagram, into whether it breached the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of regulations designed to ensure the internet is safe and fair for all users.

Under this law, which came into force in 2022, tech companies are obliged to abide by a number of content moderation policies and advertising practices.

The EU will look into Meta’s suspected infringements and its policies and practices relating to deceptive advertising and political content on its services, including the spread of disinformation ahead of upcoming European elections this year.

According to an article in the Financial Times, EU officials are particularly worried about the way Meta’s platforms are handling...