EU sets new rules online.
Google Alphabet Unit, Meta and other major online platforms will have to do more to deal with illegal content or risk large fines under new internet rules agreed between Union countries European and EU lawmakers.
The deal came after more than 16 hours of negotiations.
Last month, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager won support from the 27-nation bloc and lawmakers for historic rules called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that could force Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft to change practices in their main business in Europe.
EU lawmaker Dita Charanzova, who had called for such rules eight years ago, welcomed the deal.
“Google, Meta and other major online platforms will need to take action to better protect their users. “Europe has made it clear that they can not act as independent digital islands,” she was quoted as saying in a statement.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Google said: “As the law is finalized and implemented, the details will matter. “We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical details needed to ensure the law works for everyone.”
According to the DSA, companies face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover for violating the rules, while repeated violations could prevent them from doing business in the EU.
The new rules ban targeted advertisements targeting children or based on sensitive data such as religion, gender, race and political opinions.
Models, which are tactics that deceive people into giving out personal data to companies online, will also be banned.