This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
Published on October 7, 2021, the European Union's annual review of social media platforms that have signed up to its voluntary hate speech code found a concerning trend.
Between March and April, signatory platforms removed an average of 62.5 percent of content reported by 35 anti-discrimination groups from 22 member states. This is lower than the 71 percent average over the same six-week period in both 2019 and 2020.
EU officials are now bolstering their plan to regulate social media companies, citing the recent revelations of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. 'We need to provide rules and make platforms more accountable, not rely on voluntary schemes alone,' said European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova.
The EU's Digital Services Act, currently under discussion between the European Parliament and the Council of the bloc's 27 member states, would give the bloc beefed-up powers to fine social media companies for turning a blind eye to illegal material, including hate speech.
According to the EU's annual review, the removal of hate speech decreased on Facebook and YouTube, but increased on Twitter and Instagram. TikTok, which was evaluated for the first time, removed 80 percent of the content reported.
