European Union regulators are intensifying their oversight of major tech players like Google, Facebook, and TikTok, demanding detailed insights into their approaches to managing risks associated with generative artificial intelligence, notably the proliferation of deepfakes.
Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into effect last year, the European Commission has leveraged its expanded regulatory authority to issue inquiries to eight prominent platforms and search engines, including Microsoft’s Bing, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), regarding their strategies for mitigating the impacts of generative AI.
The EU’s regulatory maneuvers come as part of a broader effort to bolster online safety and transparency, with hefty fines looming as potential consequences for non-compliance.
While awaiting the implementation of the groundbreaking AI Act—heralded as the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation—European authorities are taking proactive steps to address concerns surrounding generative AI, encompassing not only deepfakes but also the dissemination of false information (“hallucinations”) and automated manipulation to sway public opinion.
The Commission’s inquiries span various dimensions, from scrutinizing internal protocols for risk assessment and mitigation to evaluating platforms’ preparedness for safeguarding electoral integrity, particularly in anticipation of forthcoming EU-wide elections in June.
With a deadline set for April 5 regarding election protection measures and April 26 for broader AI-related topics, the Commission aims to assess platforms’ readiness to counter potential high-impact deepfake incidents and combat misinformation effectively.
Beyond the tech giants, Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress finds itself under the DSA microscope, facing formal investigations into its handling of consumer protection issues, such as the sale of counterfeit goods and inappropriate content, including access to pornography.
In response, AliExpress asserts its commitment to compliance with regulatory standards and vows to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure adherence to DSA requirements.
Furthermore, the Commission has turned its attention to LinkedIn, seeking clarification on the platform’s adherence to DSA directives prohibiting ad targeting based on sensitive personal data, underscoring the EU’s rigorous oversight of data privacy and protection measures in the digital realm.