Most removed comments on European social media found to be lawful
Research revealed that between June and July 2023, from 87.5% to 99.7% of comments removed by European authorities from Facebook and YouTube in France, Germany, and Sweden contained no illegal content. This indicates that the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is being used not only to tackle illegal content but also as a tool for censorship.
The findings come from the "Future of Free Speech" report published in May 2024, which highlights how social media platforms face fines of up to 6% of their global revenue if they fail to act on flagged content. This creates an environment where excessive content removal is incentivized, forming a so-called “censorship industrial complex.”
This situation raises concerns about online freedom of expression and questions the balance between combating illegal content and preventing censorship. Going forward, it will be crucial to monitor how governments and platforms address these challenges.
