The European Commission has requested YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat to provide information on their content recommendation algorithms, according to an official statement.
The Commission is seeking the information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The requests, which were made on Wednesday, ask for details on the “design and functioning” of the content recommendation mechanisms at the given platforms.
YouTube and Snapchat will provide information on the “parameters” used by their algorithms that recommend content to users. The Commission is investigating how these algorithms could amplify risks related to electoral manipulation, mental health, civic dialogue, protection of children, among others.
“The questions also concern the platforms’ measures to mitigate the potential influence of their recommender systems on the spread of illegal content, such as promoting illegal drugs and hate speech,” the Commission says.
TikTok, on the other hand, has been requested to turn in information on its mitigation strategies in response to threats to media, election integrity, and civic discourse. The Commission has asked the short-video platform to explain the measures to counter manipulation on the app by malicious actors.
The deadline for the platforms to provide the requested information is November 15, 2024. Fines will be imposed in case of incorrect, incomplete or misleading information. “Failure to reply by the deadline could lead to the imposition of periodic penalty payments,” the Commission says.
