Commission enquiry into Meta’s shadow bans

Question for written answer E-001816/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tom Vandendriessche (PfE)

On 2 April 2024, I asked the Commission a question regarding the use of shadow banning on social media. Drawing on its oversight powers, on 30 April 2024, the Commission initiated formal proceedings against Meta, inter alia with regard to shadow banning practices and its 'political content policy', whereby political content is given a less prominent place in recommendation systems.

This gives rise to the following questions:

• 1.Is the Commission examining the impact of shadow banning on the recent elections?
• 2.Does shadow banning discriminate against certain political figures or beliefs?
• 3.What measures is the Commission considering to ensure the transparency and fairness of recommendation systems on social media, with a view to preventing shadow banning and political bias?

Submitted: 25.9.2024