Netherlands’ Regulator to Confront Major Online Platforms Over Disinformation Ahead of Elections
The Netherlands’ competition regulator will meet 12 major online platforms — including TikTok, Facebook, and X — on 15 September to discuss disinformation in the run-up to the 29 October elections., reports 24brussels.
The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is set to enforce the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) in the Netherlands and oversee election monitoring under the DSA. The upcoming roundtable will include representatives from the European Commission, other national regulators, and NGOs. This meeting follows the Dutch government’s collapse in June over migration policies, prompting a snap election less than a year after taking office.
ACM director Manon Leijten emphasized the responsibilities of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), stating they “must implement transparent and diligent policies regarding the content on their platforms and take effective measures against illegal content.”
According to the Commission’s DSA guidelines on electoral processes, national digital services coordinators like ACM are permitted to hold pre-election discussions with major online platforms to assess their strategies for mitigating systemic risks.
Prior to this meeting, the Dutch authorities issued a letter to platforms on 21 July, reminding them of their DSA obligations and requesting relevant contacts from their Trust and Safety policy teams. The letter also requested completion of a questionnaire detailing their strategies to safeguard public debate leading up to the elections. The ACM aims for the September meeting to deliver a “clear picture” of how these platforms intend to prevent DSA violations, including illegal hate speech, foreign interference, and misinformation.
Following the annulment of Romania’s December 2024 presidential election by the country’s top courts, the European Commission initiated a DSA investigation into TikTok. Additionally, it expanded an ongoing inquiry into X ahead of Germany’s February 2025 election, with similar discussions held prior to these events.
As of now, neither investigation has been concluded.
