Meta Could Face EU Fines Over Alleged Election Disinformation On Facebook And Instagram

The European Union will investigate Meta’s handling of disinformation and deceptive advertising on Instagram and Facebook, the bloc announced Tuesday, a probe that could focus on a Russian-backed influence campaign and may lead to millions in fines—amid growing concerns in the United States and Europe about foreign interference in upcoming elections.

The European Commission said it suspects Meta has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to implement sufficient safeguards to address deceptive advertisements, disinformation campaigns and “coordinated inauthentic behavior” on its platforms.

Meta has likely failed to “diligently assess and adequately mitigate risks” related to Facebook’s and Instagram’s effects on “civil discourse and electoral processes and other systemic risks,” the European Commission said.