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Macron digital tax plan faces EU rebuff
French President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious plans for an EU digital tax targeting US tech giants such as Google or Facebook faced strong headwinds on Saturday (28 April), provoking anger from Paris.
EU plans to pull ‘free’ digital services under consumer protection rules
EXCLUSIVE / Digital services that collect users’ data, like Facebook and Gmail, will be pulled under EU consumer protection rules as part of a European Commission overhaul due next month. Possible sanctions will be raised to up to 4% of a company's turnover.
Commission expert group pressures tech platforms to stop ‘fake news’ advertising
An expert group advising the European Commission on so-called fake news wants tech giants to be more transparent about their advertising revenue. Their new report pressures social media firms like Facebook and Twitter to deal with the spread of false information on their platforms.
Commission faces backlash for plan to fast-track tech platforms’ removal of illegal posts
Internet platforms are coming under more and more pressure in Europe, and now face a potential legal threat if they do not remove posts with terrorist content within one hour.
France eyes EU law to crack down on terrorists’ use of social media
France’s top diplomat in charge of technology policy said there could be a need for EU legislation to make sure social media firms remove content promoting terrorism.
Consumer watchdogs want fines against Twitter and Facebook for breaking EU rules
Consumer watchdogs have called for the European Commission to introduce a minimum fine against companies that break EU rules, after Facebook and Twitter failed to reform their user terms.
Commission backs away from regulating online platforms over hate speech
The European Commission is backing away from a plan to propose binding EU legislation that would force online platforms to remove posts containing hate speech.
Gabriel leading Commission effort against fake news ‘disease’
Fake news is a disease that European society needs to be “vaccinated” against, the EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said as she opened a call for public comments on possible EU responses to the spread of false information on internet platforms.
Twitter bans ads from two Russian media, cites election meddling
Twitter Inc yesterday (26 October) accused Russian media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik of interfering in the 2016 US election and banned them from buying ads on its network, after criticism the social network had not done enough to deter international meddling.
Google, Facebook and Twitter face fines as EU grows ‘impatient’ with lax consumer rules
Google, Facebook and Twitter could face fines if they do not change their user conditions to meet the European Commission's demands.
Social media giants step up fight against extremist content
Social media giants Facebook, Google's YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft said on Monday (26 June) they were forming a global working group to combine their efforts to remove terrorist content from their platforms.
After London attack, Facebook says aims to be ‘hostile environment’ for terrorists
Facebook said it wanted to make its social media platform a "hostile environment" for terrorists in a statement issued after attackers killed seven people in London and prompted Prime Minister Theresa May to demand action from internet firms.
Twitter and Brexit: Old friends reunited
Brexit has once again taken Twitter by storm as British Prime Minister Theresa May signed a letter last night (28 March) launching the process for the United Kingdom's exit from the EU.
EU Jewish leaders warned against embrace by alt-right nationalists
EU Jewish leaders have been warned against being co-opted by alt-right nationalist groups emboldened by Donald Trump’s presidency and trying to ‘whitewash’ themselves of previous anti-Semitism.
Using online technology to beat hate
Hate is brewing in society, and its expression through online speech is real and corrosive. Internet companies and NGOs are now working with the EU to fight back, writes Robin Sclafani.
The Brief: Nicola the Bruce
Robert the Bruce was a Scottish king. He is famous for two things, one of which involves a spider. The other involves thumping the English.
Big data revolutionises Europe’s fight against terrorism
The threat of terrorism has greatly accelerated the exchange of data between European states. Social media has become indispensable, both for investigative purposes and to fight propaganda. EURACTIV France reports.
Data analysis shows more Twitter users want to remain in the EU
An analysis of over one and a half million tweets mentioning Brexit over the last two weeks indicates that Twitter users in the UK tend to support remaining in the EU.
Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook agree to remove hate speech online
Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook said they will remove posts containing hate speech within 24 hours as part of a new agreement organised by the European Commission to counter extremism on the internet.
Facebook agrees to step up efforts against hate speech
Social networks should consistently take action against hate speech, maintains Federal Minister of Justice Heiko Maas. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Twitter shuts down transparency tracker
Twitter has stopped a website tracking politicians’ deleted tweets by shutting down its access to the social media giant's data.
Russia warns it could block Google, Twitter and Facebook
Russia's media watchdog has written to Google, Twitter and Facebook warning them against violating Russian Internet laws and a spokesman said Thursday (21 May) that they risk being blocked if they do not comply with the rules.
Turkey lifts ban on Twitter after it removes photos of slain prosecutor
Turkey on Monday (6 April) blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube over the publication of images of a Turkish prosecutor killed by leftist militants during a hostage standoff last week.