EC's Minzatu, in Bucharest: We must follow content moderation legislation in case of big platforms
Bucharest, Feb 4 /Agerpres/ - Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Roxana Minzatu on Tuesday said in Bucharest that the law regarding the moderation of content by large online platforms, including TikTok, must be followed because the platforms 'end up being extremely important players in a democracy.'
'The European Commission, obviously, does not take decisions and does not have competences in what it means to organise elections in a member state (...) But in terms of the functioning of large platforms, such as TikTok, for the first time globally, an entity, the European Union, has legislated, the Digital Service Act. It is legislation that regulates moderation of the content of large social media platforms and what happens to algorithms and how they can create impact,' Minzatu told a news conference at the European Commission (EC) Representation in Romania in response to a question about the EC's analysis of influencing the elections in Romania and a possible ban on the TikTok platform.
'As you know, as a result of the dialogue with the Romanian authorities responsible for the digital service and the dialogue of my colleague Vice President (Henna) Virkkunen and her services with TikTok, there was a provision to store the data that was produced during the electoral campaign in Romania, and there is an ongoing investigation. That is what I can tell you at the moment,' said Minzatu responsible for social rights, skills, quality jobs and training.
At the same time, she added that 'obviously, the possibility of taking more drastic decisions is also at the level of the member state, at the level of Romania, with arguments, with justifications.'
'We really need - and I think not only in the European Union - up-to-date regulations that allow us to act when contents are not adequately moderated or when, in the end, they are indications that transparency and ethical elements are not respected.'
Minzatu added that she does not know how whether or not the European Commission's investigation ends before the May presidential election in Romania and that she cannot offer a time horizon, but 'we are in permanent contact with our colleagues, because I am the Romanian commissioner, we have a country dimension, we are informed with each stage that is taken.'
She was on a visit to Bucharest on Monday and Tuesday for talks with Romanian officials. It is the first official visit he makes to Romania in her new capacity. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Ionut Mares; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)
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