The European Union (EU) has issued a reminder to Google CEO Sundar Pichai regarding the company’s obligations related to content moderation on YouTube in light of concerns about the dissemination of “illegal content and disinformation” within the EU, particularly following the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the internal market, emphasized the specific requirements outlined in the EU Digital Services Act related to content moderation. The letter also urged Google to be vigilant and ensure strict compliance in addressing the issues at hand.
Breton also extended this reminder to Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, underscoring the company’s responsibility to protect children and teenagers who use their platforms in the EU from violent and graphic content. This includes implementing measures that ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security for minors.
The letter also emphasized the importance of a timely, diligent, and objective response to notices of illegal content within the EU. It called on Google to cooperate with relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol while responding promptly to their requests. The letter further stressed the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures to address the risks posed by disinformation to public security and civic discourse, especially when users turn to the platform as a source of news.
Breton highlighted the EU’s concern about disinformation in the context of elections and called for measures to address the amplification of fake and manipulated images and facts intended to influence election outcomes. The letter specified that the Digital Services Act mandates the serious consideration of these issues within the framework of mitigation measures. Google was encouraged to inform the EU about the steps taken to combat deepfakes, particularly with upcoming elections in several EU member states.
The letter concluded with an invitation for Google to proactively report on the issues raised in the letter and stressed that penalties could be imposed in the event of non-compliance.
This reminder from the EU follows Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s message to employees working in Israel, where he highlighted the company’s efforts to provide reliable and accurate information to users through its products.
