EU mandates network privacy post deep fake, tech giants under scrutiny

By DR. ITAI GAL

Published: MARCH 17, 2024 15:24

Deep Fake (photo credit: documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law) — Deep Fake

(photo credit: documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law)

Google, Meta, TikTok, Twitter & others to detail user safety measures after deep fake incidents. EU threatens fines for failure to prevent fake advertising, under new Digital Services Law.

The European Union will impose heavy fines on companies that do not prevent fake advertising:

Following the spread of the "deep fake" in which fake photos and videos are published, the European Union requires the technology giants to detail how they intend to keep users safe and prevent false advertising. Companies that improved the regulation will face heavy fines.

The European Commission sent questionnaires to eight of the technology giants, including Google, Facebook, TikTok, Microsoft and Twitter, about the ways in which the risks of artificial intelligence publications are contained.

The European Commission unites 27 countries and has new regulatory powers following the Digital Services Law - a comprehensive set of regulations that came into effect last year, with the aim of keeping users safe. The technology companies are required to give answers about their defense methods by the end of April.

Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress is also facing consolidation scrutiny. The commission said it had launched formal proceedings to determine whether the company had failed to protect consumers by allowing the sale of dangerous products such as counterfeit drugs and access to child porn. The union will also review the measures taken to stop influencers who advertise illegal or harmful products.

Ali Express responded with a statement that it respects the rules and regulations in the markets in which it operates. The Union Commission also requires information from LinkedIn on whether it complies with the ban on providing personal data such as sexual orientation, race and political opinions.

Earlier this week, Apple announced that it will allow downloading of applications outside of its application store, following a fine of 1.84 billion euros imposed on it by the European Union, for abusing its dominant position in the application market.

Apple's announcement is the latest example of the Digital Markets Act, which is designed, among other things, to oblige large technology companies to open up their platforms to smaller competitors.