EU sets new rules for Google and Meta

The Google, Meta and other large internet platforms unit will have to do more to address illegal content, while endangering large fines under new internet rules agreed on between European Union countries and EU lawmakers on Saturday.

The deal came after more than 16 hours of negotiations. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the second point of EU anti-trust chief Margrethe Vestager's strategy to contain Alphabet Google, Meta and other American technology giants.

Last month, it won support from the 27-nation bloc and lawmakers for the historical rules called Digital Market Act (DMA) that could force Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft to change their main business practices in Europe.

EU lawmaker Charanova Day, which had called for such regulations eight years ago, welcomed the agreement.

“Google, Meta and other large online platforms will have to act to better protect their users. Europe has made it clear that they cannot act as independent digital islands,”, it said in a statement.

In a statement, Google said: “while the law is finalised and implemented, details will matter. We are eager to work with policymakers to get the remaining technical details needed to ensure that the law functions for all. ”

According to the DSA, companies face fines of up to 6 per cent of their global circulation for breaking the rules, while repeated violations can prevent them from doing business in the EU.

Very large internet platforms and internet search engines will be required to take specific measures during a crisis. The movement was triggered by Ukraine's Russian invasion and related dezinformation.

Companies may be forced to hand over given regulators and researchers to their algorithms.

Companies also face an annual fee of up to 0.05% of annual revenues worldwide to cover the costs of monitoring their compatibility.

The DSA will be implemented in 2024.