The EU accuses Meta and TikTok of violating their obligations to give researchers adequate access to public data on their platforms under the DSA
But muh freeze peach!! Maria Farrell / @mariafarrell : Contra the US Big Tech narrative that the DSA “is censorship”, — a key EU finding is that both TikTok and Meta/Facebook have non-existant or dysfunctional processes for people trying to appeal a platform ban. [embedded post] @socialmedialab.ca : This is something that we, along with many other scholars, have been saying for some time. It's nice to be validated. For example, as Canadian researchers, we are not eligible to apply for access to TikTok's official research API, but our EU and American counterparts are. @gateklons : Finally, a little more movement on the DSA, which has been applicable to VLOPs for more than 2 years now. Given that the Commission has had the adequate enforcement resources, one wonders what then took them so long just to come to the draft decision stage. 🤔 — www.politico.eu/article/eu-a... Mastodon: Frederik Borgesius / @Frederik_Borgesius … : 'European Commission preliminarily found both TikTok and Meta in breach of their obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data under the Digital Services Act (DSA). — The Commission also preliminarily found Meta, for both Instagram and Facebook …
PoliticoEliza Gkritsi
Context & Ripple Effects
The finding extends a DSA enforcement arc already focused on TikTok: the Commission had opened proceedings over child-protection measures and later provisionally found shortcomings in TikTok’s publicly searchable advertising library.
It also shifts attention from platform content policies to the infrastructure needed to scrutinize them. The DSA’s rollout had already imposed user-facing recommender-system choices on major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
First-order effects
Meta and TikTok must address the Commission’s preliminary concerns over researchers’ access to public platform data, placing their access processes under direct DSA scrutiny.
Both companies’ reported ineffective ban-appeal processes become a separate compliance issue affecting users seeking to challenge enforcement decisions.
Second-order effects
Researchers’ ability to audit public platform activity becomes more dependent on standardized, workable access channels rather than platforms’ discretionary tools—an issue sharpened by the finding.
Other large platforms face pressure to test whether their research-access and user-redress workflows would withstand the same scrutiny, especially after the Commission’s earlier TikTok DSA investigation.
Third-order effects
If enforced consistently, the DSA could make external auditability and meaningful redress durable operating requirements for platform governance, not peripheral transparency commitments.
The emerging boundary is contested: Meta and TikTok had already challenged the DSA’s levy structure, suggesting that disputes over the scope and cost of compliance may accompany broader enforcement.
The trend: EU platform regulation is moving from broad DSA obligations toward testing whether platforms provide the data access and procedural safeguards needed for independent accountability.
🔔Preliminary findings sent to TikTok, Facebook & Instagram under the Digital Services Act. The @EU_Commission found the three platforms in breach of their transparency & user empowerment obligations under the DSA. Users must know their rights & have the tools to exercise them. [i…
Under the DSA's balanced architecture, complaint handling systems, Notice and Action mechanisms and researchers' access to data are key to ensure that users can challenge platforms' content moderation decisions and report illegal content in the EU: https://digital-strategy.ec.eur…
Europe's platform rulebook is getting a workout. Regulators accuse @Meta and @TikTok of missing DSA requirements, while the companies push back. Meta touts product changes. TikTok says data safeguards under GDPR collide with the DSA and notes researcher access for nearly 1,000…
In EU, unlike US, social media has to enact safeguards. #bigtech getting free ride on data, surveillance marketing, AI, more. DSA - Commission preliminarily finds TikTok and Meta in breach of their transparency obligations https://ec.europa.eu/...
In a perfect slice of strategic autonomy, the EU Commission has found both TikTok and Meta in breach of their obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data under the Digital Services Act Could face fines worth 6% of their global revenue if they don't remedy it [i…
“Our democracies depend on trust...platforms must empower users, respect their rights and open their systems to scrutiny,” said Henna Virkkunen. “The DSA makes this a duty, not a choice”
Commission preliminarily finds TikTok and Meta in breach of their transparency obligations under the DSA. We are making sure platforms are accountable for their services, as ensured by EU law, towards users and society. 🔗 https://link.europa.eu/wq3Nfg
EU Commission Preliminarily Finds TikTok And Meta In Breach Of Their Transparency Obligations Under Dsa Preliminarily Found Meta, For Both Instagram And Facebook, In Breach Of Its Obligations To Police Illegal Content If Commission's Views Are Confirmed, It May Impose Fine Of
US tech giant Meta and Chinese TikTok breached their legal obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data, the European Commission said in preliminary findings of an investigation released on Friday. EU says Instagram and Facebook fail to police illegal posts. —…
Contra the US Big Tech narrative that the DSA “is censorship”, — a key EU finding is that both TikTok and Meta/Facebook have non-existant or dysfunctional processes for people trying to appeal a platform ban. [embedded post]
This is something that we, along with many other scholars, have been saying for some time. It's nice to be validated. For example, as Canadian researchers, we are not eligible to apply for access to TikTok's official research API, but our EU and American counterparts are.
Finally, a little more movement on the DSA, which has been applicable to VLOPs for more than 2 years now. Given that the Commission has had the adequate enforcement resources, one wonders what then took them so long just to come to the draft decision stage. 🤔 — www.politico.e…