In a ground-breaking move that promises to revolutionize the digital landscape, Europeans are set to witness significant changes to their online experiences. Starting Friday, individuals across the 27-nation European Union will have the power to modify what appears in their search results and social media feeds, thanks to a pioneering new set of digital regulations. These rules, a part of the Digital Services Act, are aimed at safeguarding European users in terms of privacy, content transparency, and the removal of harmful or illegal content.
These changes will primarily affect the biggest social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other tech behemoths like Google and Amazon. The majority of these Big Tech companies, predominantly based in the U.S, will now have to comply with these new EU regulations. Among the most significant changes is the ability to opt-out of AI-recommended videos, which have been criticized for creating filter bubbles and pushing users towards increasingly extreme content. The European Commission’s new regulations will provide users with alternative options for content recommendations that are not solely based on profiling.
Sweeping Changes For Europeans Online Life: The New EU Digital Regulations
Starting this Friday, the digital landscape for Europeans is set for a significant overhaul. All citizens across the 27 nations of the European Union will experience changes in how they interact with the biggest social media platforms and tech giants like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Google, and Amazon. These changes are a result of a pioneering new set of EU digital regulations, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), aimed at protecting European users’ privacy, enhancing transparency, and mitigating harmful or illegal content.
A Shift in AI-Based Recommendations
One of the most significant changes is the ability to turn off AI-recommended videos. Automated recommendation systems, which decide what users see in their feeds based on their profiles, can now be switched off. In a blog post, Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, announced that users could opt out of its artificial intelligence ranking and recommendation systems. Consequently, users can choose to view content only from accounts they follow, with search results based solely on typed words, not user’s previous activity and interests.
Operating similarly, TikTok will serve up popular videos from their area and around the world, instead of videos based on previous views. Snapchat users can also opt out of personalized content. This substantial shift aims to counter the so-called filter bubbles and extreme post pushing caused by algorithmic recommendation systems.
Reporting Harmful Content Made Easier
The DSA also makes it easier for users to flag content that breaks the law or a platform’s rules. TikTok has introduced an "additional reporting option" for content, including advertising, believed to be illegal. By selecting categories such as hate speech, misinformation, or frauds and scams, users can identify the problem more accurately. To review the flagged content, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has added a new team of moderators and legal specialists.
Enhanced Transparency in Content Moderation
In line with the EU’s push for more transparency, TikTok will provide more information about content moderation decisions made. Google also announced it would expand the scope of its transparency reports, revealing more about its content moderation handling.
Counterfeit Product Reporting
The DSA aims to do more than just police content; it aims to halt the flow of counterfeit products. Amazon has established a new channel for reporting suspected illegal products and content, and is also providing more publicly available information about third-party merchants. Online fashion marketplace, Zalando, is setting up flagging systems, though it downplays the threat of illegal content due to its highly curated collection.
Protecting Children from Digital Ads
The EU aims to crack down on digital ads targeted at children. Several platforms have begun restricting the types of data used to show ads to teens. TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta have all introduced measures to restrict personalized and targeted advertising to users under 18.
Takeaways
The new DSA regulations represent a significant shift in the digital landscape. The ability to opt-out of AI-based recommendations allows users to have a more controlled and personalized online experience. The improved reporting and transparency measures will make it easier for users to understand and contest content moderation decisions. Moreover, the crackdown on digital ads targeting children and counterfeit products will provide a safer digital environment for all users. The world will be watching closely to see how these changes unfold and potentially shape digital regulations in other regions.
