Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to do more to tackle illegal content or risk hefty fines under new internet rules agreed between&nbsp;European Union countries and&nbsp;EU&nbsp;lawmakers on Saturday.

The agreement came after more than 16 hours of negotiations. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the second prong of&nbsp;EU&nbsp;antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's strategy to rein in Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other U.S. tech giants.

Last month, she won backing from the 27-country bloc and lawmakers for landmark rules called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that could force Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft to change their core business practices in&nbsp;Europe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-average-temperature-increased-by-over-two-degrees-last-year-472978">Europe's average temperature increased by over two degrees last year</a>

"We have a deal on the DSA: The Digital Services Act will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen and dealt with as illegal online - not as a slogan, as reality," Vestager said in a tweet.

EU&nbsp;lawmaker Dita Charanzova, who had called for such rules eight years ago, welcomed the agreement.

"Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to act to better protect their users.&nbsp;Europe has made clear that they cannot act as independent digital islands," she said in a statement.

In a statement, Google said: "As the law is finalised and implemented, the details will matter. We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical details right to ensure the law works for everyone."

Watch |&nbsp;EU's climate monitor raises alarm: dangerous, extreme events to become worse

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eus-climate-monitor-raises-alarm-dangerous-extreme-events-to-become-worse-473087/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Under the DSA, the companies face fines up to 6 per cent&nbsp;of their global turnover for violating the rules while repeated breaches could see them banned from doing business in the&nbsp;EU.

The new rules ban targeted advertising aimed at children or based on sensitive data such as religion, gender, race and political opinions. Dark patterns, which are tactics that mislead people into giving personal data to companies online, will also be prohibited.

Very large online platforms and online search engines will be required to take specific measures during a crisis. The move was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the related disinformation.

The companies could be forced to hand over data related to their algorithms to regulators and researchers.

The companies also face a yearly fee up to 0.05 per cent&nbsp;of worldwide annual revenue to cover the costs of monitoring their compliance.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/eu-may-agree-on-stringent-tech-services-regulation-very-soon-472811">EU may agree on stringent tech services regulation very soon</a>

EU&nbsp;lawmaker Martin Schirdewan criticised the exemption granted to medium-sized companies.

"Under pressure from the conservatives, an exception rule for medium-sized companies was integrated, this is a mistake. Due to the large number of companies that fall under this definition in the digital sector, the exception is like a loophole," he said.

The DSA will be enforced in 2024.

Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to do more to tackle illegal content or risk hefty fines under new internet rules agreed between European Union countries and EU lawmakers on Saturday.

Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to do more to tackle illegal content or risk hefty fines under new internet rules agreed between European Union countries and EU lawmakers on Saturday. The agreement came after more than 16 hours of negotiations. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the second prong of EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's strategy to rein in Alphabet unit Google, Meta and other U.S. tech giants. Last month, she won backing from the 27-country bloc and lawmakers for landmark rules called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that could force Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft to change their core business practices in Europe. Also read | Europe's average temperature increased by over two degrees last year "We have a deal on the DSA: The Digital Services Act will make sure that what is illegal offline is also seen and dealt with as illegal online - not as a slogan, as reality," Vestager said in a tweet. EU lawmaker Dita Charanzova, who had called for such rules eight years ago, welcomed the agreement. "Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to act to better protect their users. Europe has made clear that they cannot act as independent digital islands," she said in a statement. In a statement, Google said: "As the law is finalised and implemented, the details will matter. We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical details right to ensure the law works for everyone." Watch | EU's climate monitor raises alarm: dangerous, extreme events to become worse Under the DSA, the companies face fines up to 6 per cent of their global turnover for violating the rules while repeated breaches could see them banned from doing business in the EU. The new rules ban targeted advertising aimed at children or based on sensitive data such as religion, gender, race and political opinions. Dark patterns, which are tactics that mislead people into giving personal data to companies online, will also be prohibited. Very large online platforms and online search engines will be required to take specific measures during a crisis. The move was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the related disinformation. The companies could be forced to hand over data related to their algorithms to regulators and researchers. The companies also face a yearly fee up to 0.05 per cent of worldwide annual revenue to cover the costs of monitoring their compliance. Also read | EU may agree on stringent tech services regulation very soon EU lawmaker Martin Schirdewan criticised the exemption granted to medium-sized companies. "Under pressure from the conservatives, an exception rule for medium-sized companies was integrated, this is a mistake. Due to the large number of companies that fall under this definition in the digital sector, the exception is like a loophole," he said. The DSA will be enforced in 2024.

European Union sets new online rules for Google, Meta to curb illegal content

The European Union has released a new set of rules with some hefty fines, it bans target advertising that is aimed at children. Data such as religion, gender, race and political opinions will have to be tackled with sensitivity. The act also stop people from giving their personal data to companies online

EU slams tech giants for not doing enough, releases new rules to tackle illegal content

Russia has restricted the use of Twitter across the nation by moving to slow down the speed of the service after it was accused of failing to remove banned content from its website.

Russia restricts use of Twitter over failure to delete illegal content

The European Union (EU) has rejected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's white paper on online content regulation, saying the social networking platform must take responsibility for harmful, fake and illegal content. Zuckerberg on February 17 pushed forward a white paper titled "Charting a Way Forward: Online Content Regulation" that builds on recent developments, including legislative efforts and scholarship.

EU rejects Facebook CEO's offer on regulating online content

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">European Union</a> (EU) has rejected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Facebook </a>CEO <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Mark Zuckerberg</a>'s offer&nbsp;on online content regulation, saying the social networking platform must take responsibility for harmful, fake and illegal content. 
 
On Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Zuckerberg&nbsp;</a>had proposed&nbsp;reforms regarding the regulation of Facebook's online content with the slogan "charting a way forward: online content regulation".

After meeting the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Facebook </a>CEO in Brussels, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">EU </a>industry commissioner Thierry Breton said the proposed Internet rules are insufficient and it was for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Facebook </a>to adapt and adherer to Europe's standards, not the other way round.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Facebook CEO Zuckerberg meets top EU officials ahead of proposals regulating AI&nbsp;</a>

Breton who is tasked with overseeing the bloc's data strategy, said Facebook "was being slow in coming forward with ideas on how to remove illegal content and warning that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">EU </a>was preparing to act." 
 
Last year, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Zuckerberg </a>called for governments to work with online platforms to create and adopt new regulation for online content, noting, "It's impossible to remove all harmful content from the Internet, but when people use dozens of different sharing services all with their own policies and processes we need a more standardised approach." 
 
According to Monika Bickert, Vice President, Content Policy at Facebook, the white paper poses some key questions which go to the heart of the debate about regulating content online. 
 
"How can content regulation best achieve the goal of reducing harmful speech while preserving free expression? By requiring systems such as user-friendly channels for reporting content or external oversight of policies or enforcement decisions, and by requiring procedures such as periodic public reporting of enforcement data," said Bickert.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-zuckerberg-asks-facebook-to-be-treated-like-something-between-a-telco-and-a-newspaper-280887">Zuckerberg asks Facebook&nbsp;to be treated "'like something between a telco and a newspaper"</a>

"Regulators could consider certain requirements for companies, such as publishing their content standards, consulting with stakeholders when making significant changes to standards, or creating a channel for users to appeal a company's content removal or non-removal decision". 
 
Facebook said regulators should develop an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of technology in content moderation and allow internet companies the flexibility to innovate. 
 
However, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">EU </a>justice chief Vera Jourova who met <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Zuckerberg </a>also rejected the white paper. 
 
"Facebook cannot push away all the responsibility. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-news-facebook-ceo-zuckerberg-meets-top-eu-officials-ahead-of-proposals-regulating-ai-281238">Zuckerberg </a>have to answer themselves a question 'who do they want to be'&nbsp;as a company and what values they want to promote," she said in a statement.

The European Union (EU) has rejected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's offer on online content regulation, saying the social networking platform must take responsibility for harmful, fake and illegal content.

The European Union (EU) has rejected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's offer on online content regulation, saying the social networking platform must take responsibility for harmful, fake and illegal content. On Monday, Zuckerberg had proposed reforms regarding the regulation of Facebook's online content with the slogan "charting a way forward: online content regulation". After meeting the Facebook CEO in Brussels, EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton said the proposed Internet rules are insufficient and it was for Facebook to adapt and adherer to Europe's standards, not the other way round. Also read: Facebook CEO Zuckerberg meets top EU officials ahead of proposals regulating AI Breton who is tasked with overseeing the bloc's data strategy, said Facebook "was being slow in coming forward with ideas on how to remove illegal content and warning that the EU was preparing to act." Last year, Zuckerberg called for governments to work with online platforms to create and adopt new regulation for online content, noting, "It's impossible to remove all harmful content from the Internet, but when people use dozens of different sharing services all with their own policies and processes we need a more standardised approach." According to Monika Bickert, Vice President, Content Policy at Facebook, the white paper poses some key questions which go to the heart of the debate about regulating content online. "How can content regulation best achieve the goal of reducing harmful speech while preserving free expression? By requiring systems such as user-friendly channels for reporting content or external oversight of policies or enforcement decisions, and by requiring procedures such as periodic public reporting of enforcement data," said Bickert. Also read: Zuckerberg asks Facebook to be treated "'like something between a telco and a newspaper" "Regulators could consider certain requirements for companies, such as publishing their content standards, consulting with stakeholders when making significant changes to standards, or creating a channel for users to appeal a company's content removal or non-removal decision". Facebook said regulators should develop an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of technology in content moderation and allow internet companies the flexibility to innovate. However, EU justice chief Vera Jourova who met Zuckerberg also rejected the white paper. "Facebook cannot push away all the responsibility. Facebook and Zuckerberg have to answer themselves a question 'who do they want to be' as a company and what values they want to promote," she said in a statement.

European Union rejects Mark Zuckerberg's offer on regulating online content

illegal-content

Illegal Content, News on Illegal Content, stories on Illegal Content, articles on Illegal Content, Illegal Content stories at Wion, Illegal Content news, Illegal Content latest news