The European Union is keen on acquiring further insights into social media algorithms

Through the Digital Services Regulation (DSA), the European Commission has officially sought data from Youtube, Snapchat, and Tiktok regarding the specific criteria employed by their algorithms to suggest social media content to users.

Following this, the Commission aims to assess the potential risks associated with these algorithms, particularly in the realms of democratic elections, mental well-being, and the welfare of children. Moreover, they intend to scrutinize how these platforms are working towards mitigating the adverse effects of their recommendation systems on the dissemination of illicit content, such as the encouragement of substance abuse and the provocation of hostility towards certain ethnic communities.

The social media entities are required to submit the requested information by November 15.

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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