Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google, are being forced to make some changes to their terms of service, or they risk being fined by EU lawmakers.
It is the Commission and European consumer protection authority which is looking to press for fines against these companies if they don't make changes to their terms. They want to be sure that these various companies are in compliance with EU consumer rules.
Recent Changes...
Just this week, Germany introduced some changes in calling for social networking sites like Facebook to remove harmful speech from its platform.
Specifically, it was calling for Facebook to remove slanderous and threatening online speech. If they don't comply to the changes, lawmakers are allegedly ready to fine them roughly $50 million.
But there doesn't seem to be any need to censor speech in this way on these platforms, and if anything it seems like a difficult task to try and carry-out effectively. One reason that it seems unnecessary is because there are already laws in place regarding the assertion of threats and slander etc.
Who gets to decide what constitutes slanderous or threatening speech? Should it be left up to legal professionals (judges and juries etc) or should it be left to a Facebook algorithm to determine?
A number of these big social media companies have already been contacted by the European Commission, over other concerns regarding fraud on their sites and possible scams.
It's alleged that the social media companies are already working along with the Commission in order to try and reach some sort of resolution. Some of the changes that they want the sites to make are things like better identifying sponsored content, allowing users to seek redress in their own home country rather than in California, and more.
Pics:
Pixabay
Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-socialmedia-eu-consumersconsumers-idUSKBN16N2YI
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-4473_en.htm
http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/14/14920812/germany-facebook-twitter-hate-speech-fine-law