European Union (EU) Commissioner Thierry Breton has slammed Big Tech companies for allowing the public to view some information regarding the recent riots in France.
Breton blasted social media platforms for failing to “do enough” to censor posts regarding the French riots.
The EU commissioner’s recent critique of social media platforms during France’s riots has sparked concerns among free speech advocates.
Breton argued that TikTok and Snapchat’s inadequate content censorship allowed people to post images and videos of the riots online, ultimately informing people around the world about the reality of the crisis.
Speaking on France Info radio, Breton highlighted the firms’ alleged failure to control content related to the civil unrest.
However, some fear that his tyrannical standpoint could potentially infringe on freedom of expression if companies comply with his demands.
The rioting that plagued French cities in the aftermath of a police-related shooting incident involving a teenager on June 27 was amplified by videos circulated on social media, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron also refuses to accept that his globalist government’s policies played a key role in the unrest.
While Macron argues the spread of these videos exacerbated the unrest, advocates for free speech might interpret the situation differently.
Many view social media as a platform for citizens to document and share real-time, uncensored reports of events happening in their community.
From August 25 onwards, under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the European Union will wield more substantial powers in enforcing compliance with rules governing content removal.
Breton clarified that any platforms failing to eliminate “content that is hateful” would face immediate penalties, including fines and suspensions.
This prospect raises questions about where to draw the line between harmful content and free speech, an ongoing debate in the digital era.
Breton assured that action against non-compliant platforms would be swift, stating that, “Platforms will have to show us that they are in a position to apply the law.”
This comment, while indicative of a proactive approach to content censorship, stokes concerns about the potential for censorship and restrictions on free speech.
In response to the unfolding events, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms Inc., has hired an additional 1,000 censors, according to Breton.
He also suggested that Meta should confirm the compliance of its new app, Threads, with EU law before its launch in the bloc.
