The European Union has updated its code of conduct on online hate speech, requiring tech giants like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to intensify efforts to combat harmful content.
The revised rules, integrated into the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), mandate quicker action and greater transparency from platforms.
Additional platforms joining the initiative include Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitch, and others. The updated code enables non-profits and public organizations with expertise in hate speech to monitor and assess at least two-thirds of reports within 24 hours.
Companies will employ automated detection tools, share detailed insights into how algorithms amplify illegal content, and provide country-specific data on hate speech categorized by race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen stated, “In Europe, there is no place for illegal hate, either offline or online,” commending stakeholders’ commitment to the DSA. This strengthened code is expected to hold platforms accountable for managing illegal and harmful content.