(Teleborsa) – La European Commission sent one request for information to YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA), requiring the platforms to provide greater information on the design and operation of their recommender systems. Under the DSA, platforms must adequately assess and mitigate risks arising from their recommendation systems, including risks to users’ mental health and the spread of harmful content arising from the engagement-based design of these algorithms.
YouTube e Snapchat are required to provide detailed information on the parameters used by their algorithms to recommend content to users, as well as their role in amplifying certain systemic risks, including those related to the electoral process and civic discourse, the mental well-being of users and the protection of minors. The questions also concern platforms’ measures to mitigate the potential influence of their recommendation systems on the spread of illegal content, such as the promotion of illegal drugs and hate speech.
TikTok was invited to provide more information on the measures adopted to avoid manipulation of the service by malicious actors and to mitigate risks related to elections, media pluralism and civic discourse, which could be amplified by certain recommendation systems.
YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok must provide the requested information by November 15th.
“This morning we received a request for information from the European Commission, which we will now examine. We will cooperate with the Commission throughout the RFI process,” a TikTok spokesperson said.