Germany stands on the brink of its federal elections scheduled for Sunday, February 23. However, recent revelations have cast a shadow over the electoral process as Meta and X (formerly Twitter) approved ads containing violent anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate speech. These approvals come in the critical days leading up to the elections, raising concerns about the role of social media platforms in influencing democratic processes.
The controversy arose following a test conducted by Eko, a corporate responsibility non-profit campaign group. Eko's investigation into the moderation policies of Meta and X revealed that both platforms permitted the circulation of incendiary advertisements. These test ads included messages that depicted immigrants as "rodents" and contained antisemitic slurs and threats of violence against Muslims and Jews.
Alarmingly, Meta approved five out of ten hate speech ads submitted by Eko, while X greenlit all ten. The approvals occurred swiftly, within hours of submission in mid-February. Fortunately, Eko's researchers took proactive measures by disabling all test ads before they could be seen by platform users, ensuring that no one was exposed to the harmful content.
In response to these findings, the European Union has launched open investigations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) into Meta and X. These investigations, announced in July, focus on election security and illegal content management. Although proceedings remain ongoing, pressure mounts on the Commission to deliver decisive action.
Eko's findings have been formally submitted to the European Commission, which is tasked with enforcing the DSA. The spokesperson from Eko underscored the gravity of the situation, stating:
"Our findings, alongside mounting evidence from other civil society groups, show that Big Tech will not clean up its platforms voluntarily." – Eko spokesperson
The Commission is concurrently navigating external pressures from the Trump Administration to temper its regulatory stance on Big Tech. This geopolitical tension further complicates an already delicate situation.
These alarming incidents highlight broader concerns about social media platforms' role in modern democracies. Natasha, a senior reporter for TechCrunch, delved into these issues by conversing with Eko representatives. The spokesperson articulated that the EU's flagship online governance regulation has inadequately protected Germany's democratic process from tech-fueled threats.
"Regulators must take strong action — both in enforcing the DSA but also for example implementing pre-election mitigation measures." – Eko spokesperson
Compounding these concerns, Global Witness released results from tests conducted on X and TikTok's algorithmic "For You" feeds in Germany. The findings suggest that these platforms exhibit a bias towards promoting Alternative for Germany (AfD) content over that from other political parties. This alleged partiality raises further questions about the influence of digital platforms on political landscapes.
The DSA serves as a regulatory framework aimed at controlling online content and ensuring election security. Yet, Eko's findings cast doubt on its effectiveness. As Germany approaches a pivotal election, the urgency for robust regulatory measures becomes increasingly apparent.
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