On August 25, new content rules are set to be implemented for social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, as the European Union (EU) seeks to tighten regulations around online content. The move follows concerns over the spread of disinformation and hate speech on social media, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent rise of far-right movements in Europe.

Under the new rules, social media companies will be required to remove any illegal content, including hate speech and terrorist propaganda, within one hour of receiving a notification from authorities. The rules also require platforms to provide quarterly reports on how they are handling illegal content and fake news.

The regulations are part of the Digital Services Act (DSA) proposed by the European Commission in December 2020. The DSA aims to update the rules for the online world and hold social media companies accountable for the content that appears on their platforms. The proposed legislation will apply to all digital services, including online marketplaces and search engines, as well as social media platforms.

The new rules have faced criticism from social media companies, with Facebook and Twitter arguing that the one-hour time frame is too short for them to accurately review and remove illegal content. They have also expressed concerns over the impact on freedom of expression and the possibility of being held responsible for user-generated content.

However, supporters of the regulations argue that they are necessary to combat the spread of harmful content and promote accountability for social media companies. In a statement, Vera Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency at the European Commission, said, “We are empowering citizens to be the ultimate judges of what is and what is not illegal content.”

The EU has been a leader in regulating the tech industry, with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into effect in 2018. The DSA is expected to be approved in late 2022 or early 2023, with a transition period of six months for companies to comply with the new rules.

The move towards tighter regulation of social media is not limited to Europe. In the United States, there have been calls for increased regulation of tech companies, particularly in the wake of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol, which was partly organized on social media platforms.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on social media for news and communication, the need for responsible and transparent regulation becomes more pressing. The implementation of new rules in Europe could set a precedent for other countries to follow and force social media companies to take more responsibility for the content that appears on their platforms.