Commission urges social media companies to do more to fully comply with EU consumer rules

Further information:

Social media companies were urged to do more to respond to the request made by the European Commission and Member States' consumer authorities to comply with EU consumer rules. This request was made in March 2017 following a stakeholders meeting.

Background information:

The European Commission expects online platforms to swiftly and proactively detect, remove and prevent the re-appearance of illegal content online, as stated in its Communication on tackling illegal content online from September 2017.

+ Progress on the implementation of a Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech, June 2017

The European Commission published on 15 February 2018 a summary of changes undertaken by Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to align their services with EU consumer protection rules.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Justice and Consumers: Facebook, Google and Twitter accept to change their terms of services to make them customer-friendly and compliant with EU rules http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/item-detail.cfm?item_id=614254

The Guardian [Commentary]: Only the EU can break Facebook and Google's dominance https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/feb/15/eu-facebook-google-dominance-george-soros

EurActiv, 15.02.18: Consumer watchdogs want fines against Twitter and Facebook for breaking EU rules https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/consumer-watchdogs-want-fines-against-twitter-and-facebook-for-breaking-eu-rules/

EUObserver, 15.02.18: Facebook and Twitter weak on protecting users, says EU https://euobserver.com/justice/141001

BBC News, 15.02.18: Social networks 'too slow' on rights changes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43071971

Deutsche Welle, 15.02.18: EU: Twitter, Facebook still in violation of the bloc's consumer law http://p.dw.com/p/2sjzB

RTÉ, 15.02.18: EU tells Facebook, Google and Twitter to 'do more' for users https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0215/940949-commission-on-social-media-giants/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 21.03.18: Judy Asks: Is Social Media Above the Law? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=75852

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