Facebook, Twitter to face new EU content rules by August 25

The world’s largest social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and others will have to crack down on illegal and harmful content or else face hefty fines under the European Union’s Digital Services Act from as early as August 25.

The European Commission today will designate 19 very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines that will fall under the scrutiny of the wide-ranging online content law. These firms will face strict requirements including swiftly removing illegal content, ensuring minors are not targeted with personalized ads and limiting the spread of disinformation and harmful content like cyberbullying.

"With great scale comes great responsibility," said the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton in a briefing with journalists. "As of August 25, in other words, exactly four months [from] now, online platforms and search engines with more than 45 million active users ... will have stronger obligation."

The designated companies with over 45 million users in the EU include:

— Eight social media platforms, namely Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Snapchat;

— Five online marketplaces, namely Amazon, Booking, AliExpres, Google Shopping and Zalando;

— Other platforms, including Apple and Google’s app stores, Google Maps and Wikipedia, and search engines Google and Bing.

The Commission is also in the process of designating "four to five" additional platforms "in the next few weeks."