Brussels is once again putting the spotlight on the social networks YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok. This time for the recommendation systems that they apply due to the possibility that they violate the European law on digital services. These regulations require platforms to assess and mitigate risks derived from their recommendation systems, including risks to users’ mental health and the dissemination of harmful content derived from the algorithms.
The European Commission asked these three companies to provide information on the system and design of their recommendation systems, which are algorithms and techniques that platforms use to offer personalized suggestions to users based on the information they have. in their profiles and their usage behavior. .
Community government’s concern in the case of YouTube and Snapchat concerns the parameters used by their algorithms to make recommendations and their “role in amplifying certain systemic risks, including those related to the electoral process and civic discourse.” The consequences of these recommendations in terms of mental health are also worrying, such as the consequences in terms of addictions and the protection of minors.
“The questions also refer to measures taken by platforms to mitigate the possible influence of their recommendation systems on the dissemination of illegal content, such as the promotion of illegal drugs and incitement to hatred,” says the European Commission. in a press release.
In the case of TikTok, information was requested on “measures adopted to prevent manipulation of the service by malicious actors and mitigate risks related to elections, media pluralism and civic discourse, which “may be amplified by some recommender systems”.
Companies must respond by November 15 and, from there, the European Commission will determine the next steps. One option is that the information does not meet community government requirements and this would lead to the formal opening of an investigation. Brussels has already opened proceedings against TikTok, AliExpress, Facebook and Instagram for violating the rules regarding recommendation systems.
