The European Commission dismissed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s assertion that European Union data laws promote censorship, stating that these laws only require large platforms to remove illegal or harmful content. Zuckerberg had criticized the EU's regulations, describing them as barriers to innovation, while announcing Meta’s decision to scrap U.S. fact-checking programs.
During his remarks, Zuckerberg argued that Europe’s growing number of regulations are “institutionalizing censorship,” making it challenging to foster innovation in the region. In response, the European Commission emphasized that the Digital Services Act (DSA) does not mandate the removal of lawful content. Instead, the law focuses on ensuring that platforms address harmful content, such as material that could negatively affect children or undermine democratic systems. A Commission spokesperson firmly rejected the censorship claims, underscoring that the DSA’s goal is to improve content moderation practices, not to stifle free speech.
As part of its strategy shift, Meta announced plans to discontinue fact-checking programs for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the United States. The company intends to replace these systems with a “community notes” feature, modeled after a similar tool used by X (formerly Twitter). Community notes allow users to flag potentially misleading posts and provide clarifying notes, which are displayed publicly if users with diverse viewpoints agree on their accuracy.
The European Commission stated that platforms operating in the EU must adhere to regulatory requirements, including conducting risk assessments for new content moderation systems. While the Commission did not oppose the use of community notes, it stressed that platforms must demonstrate the effectiveness of their moderation policies. “Whatever model a platform chooses needs to be effective, and this is what we’re looking at,” said a Commission spokesperson.
Despite Meta’s decision to discontinue U.S.-based fact-checking, the Commission reassured EU users that independent fact-checking efforts would continue to provide oversight for content shared within the European Union. The developments highlight ongoing tensions between tech giants and regulators over balancing free expression, content moderation, and compliance with regional laws.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Meta’s Moderation Rules: A Win for Top Advertisers, a Loss for Everyone Else?
During his remarks, Zuckerberg argued that Europe’s growing number of regulations are “institutionalizing censorship,” making it challenging to foster innovation in the region. In response, the European Commission emphasized that the Digital Services Act (DSA) does not mandate the removal of lawful content. Instead, the law focuses on ensuring that platforms address harmful content, such as material that could negatively affect children or undermine democratic systems. A Commission spokesperson firmly rejected the censorship claims, underscoring that the DSA’s goal is to improve content moderation practices, not to stifle free speech.
As part of its strategy shift, Meta announced plans to discontinue fact-checking programs for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the United States. The company intends to replace these systems with a “community notes” feature, modeled after a similar tool used by X (formerly Twitter). Community notes allow users to flag potentially misleading posts and provide clarifying notes, which are displayed publicly if users with diverse viewpoints agree on their accuracy.
The European Commission stated that platforms operating in the EU must adhere to regulatory requirements, including conducting risk assessments for new content moderation systems. While the Commission did not oppose the use of community notes, it stressed that platforms must demonstrate the effectiveness of their moderation policies. “Whatever model a platform chooses needs to be effective, and this is what we’re looking at,” said a Commission spokesperson.
Despite Meta’s decision to discontinue U.S.-based fact-checking, the Commission reassured EU users that independent fact-checking efforts would continue to provide oversight for content shared within the European Union. The developments highlight ongoing tensions between tech giants and regulators over balancing free expression, content moderation, and compliance with regional laws.
Read next: Meta’s Moderation Rules: A Win for Top Advertisers, a Loss for Everyone Else?
