According to the results of the fifth evaluation of the EU Code of Conduct on countering hate speech online, which the European Commission published on Monday, 22 June, 90% of flagged content is now processed in less than 24 hours (40% in 2016) and 71% of this content is removed because it illegally feeds hate (28% in 2016).
The EU institution applauds the fact that this average rate of content removal—similar to that observed in previous evaluations—shows that electronic platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube are respecting freedom of expression while avoiding the removal of legal content.
Nonetheless, the Commission notes that platforms must ensure that their analysis of flagged content remains consistent over time and improve transparency with and feedback to Internet users. Only Facebook systematically informs users of follow-up actions taken.
“What is illegal offline remains illegal online”, said Commissioner for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová. “Now the time is ripe to ensure that all platforms have the same obligations across the entire Single Market and clarify in legislation the platforms’ responsibilities to make users safer online”, she added, referring to the ongoing reflection on the future Digital Services Act (see EUROPE 12512/8).
In the same press release, her counterpart Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders indicated that the Commission was considering “binding transparency measures for platforms”.
See the Commission’s fifth evaluation: https://bit.ly/2Bx2VwI (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)