Leading tech companies have agreed to step up measures to counter hate speech on their social media platforms, according to the European Commission.
The announcement, which came on Monday, suggests that an updated code of conduct will be incorporated in the European Union’s (EU) tech regulations. The voluntary code was first set up in May 2016.
The platforms that have pledged to do more against hate speech include Meta’s Facebook, X, and Google’s YouTube. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and more platforms are among the signatories as well.
“In Europe there is no place for illegal hate, either offline or online,” EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said in a statement. “I welcome the stakeholders’ commitment to a strengthened Code of conduct under the Digital Services Act (DSA).”
Tech companies, under the modified code of conduct, have agreed to allow nonprofits and public entities to monitor how they review hate speech notices in response to illegal hate on online platforms. They will also “assess at least two thirds of these notices received from them within 24 hours”, as reported by Reuters.
Automation detection tools will also be part of these tech companies’ strategies to minimise online hate. In addition, they will provide information on how recommendation systems operate and share insights into organic and algorithmic spread of illegal content before it is removed.
