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'Legendary' Eubank Jr beats Benn in grudge bout
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Thunder sweep past Grizzlies into NBA playoffs 2nd round, Cavs on brink
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South Korea's Ryu and Japan's Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead
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Canada leaders make closing pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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De Bruyne's Man City exit 'so difficult' for Guardiola
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'No regrets' for Amorim over Man Utd move
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Lyon and Strasbourg win to close in on Europe, Montpellier relegated from Ligue 1
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Toulouse thrash Castres as Top 14 pursuers stumble
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Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances
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Olympic champs Russell, Davis-Woodhall win at Drake Relays
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Browns end Sanders long draft slide
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Cavs crush Heat, on brink of NBA playoff sweep
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Fire rages after major blast at Iran port kills 8, injures hundreds
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Kiwi Beamish wins Penn Relays 1,500m crown with late kick
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Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final
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England survive France fightback to seal Women's 6 Nations slam
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Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final
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CAF appoint Moroccan Lekjaa first vice-president
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Major blast at Iran port kills 5, injures hundreds
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Rodgers vows to stay with Celtic after fourth successive Scottish title
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Ipswich relegated as Newcastle, Chelsea boost top five bids
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Canada leaders make final pitches in campaign upended by Trump
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Mullins -- Ireland's national training treasure
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US, Iran say progress in 'positive' nuclear talks
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Mullins emulates O'Brien with second successive trainer's title
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Ipswich relegated after one season in Premier League
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Just Stop Oil activist group holds final march
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Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener
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Syria's Kurds demand 'democratic decentralised' Syria
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Leverkusen win to delay Bayern and Kane's title party
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Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with tears and calls to action
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Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
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Maresca hails 'nasty' Chelsea as top five bid stays alive
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Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelensky talks at pope's funeral
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Major blast at Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
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Napoleon's sword to be sold at auction in Paris
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Iran, US discuss nuclear deal in third round of talks
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Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with call to action
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Warholm sets hurdles world record at Diamond League, Holloway shocked
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US students 'race' sperm in reproductive health stunt
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Wikileaks founder Assange joins crowds for pope funeral
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Leader Marc Marquez claims Spanish MotoGP sprint victory
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Celtic win fourth successive Scottish Premiership title
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Jackson ends drought as Chelsea boost top five push
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Warholm sets 300m hurdles world record in Diamond League opener
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Major blast at south Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
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Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
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Francis laid to rest as 400,000 mourn pope 'with an open heart'
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Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines of pope's funeral
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'Shared loss': Filipino Catholics bid Pope Francis farewell
Meta's announcements and digital services?
Recent announcements by Meta, the technology conglomerate formerly known as Facebook, are raising questions about compliance with new and upcoming European digital regulations. In particular, critics argue that Meta’s proposed changes—ranging from expanded encryption options to the way it handles user data—could conflict with the European Union’s (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA).
The Digital Services Act is part of the EU’s broader effort to modernize internet governance, alongside the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and other legislation.
The DSA aims to:
- Increase Transparency: Large online platforms must disclose how their algorithms rank content and ads.
- Enhance Accountability: Platforms must tackle illegal or harmful content promptly, and offer clear mechanisms for users to report it.
- Protect User Rights: Users should be able to appeal content takedowns and have better insight into how and why posts are removed or demoted.
These rules place heightened responsibilities on big tech companies—those classified as “very large online platforms” with tens of millions of European users.
Meta’s Recent Announcements:
Over the past few months, Meta has shared several updates about its business strategy and platform operations, including:
- Increased End-to-End Encryption: Meta plans to make messaging on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp more robustly encrypted.
- Data Collection and Personalization: Meta continues to prioritize data-driven ad targeting, which remains a central component of its revenue model.
- Content Moderation Tools: The company has signaled new automated detection systems to handle harmful content.
At first glance, these moves might appear aligned with a more privacy-focused approach. However, some experts contend that the heightened encryption and ongoing data collection practices might not fully align with the EU’s expectations for transparency, oversight, and user empowerment.
Potential Areas of Conflict
Algorithmic Transparency:
The DSA requires large platforms to provide clearer information on how content is promoted or suppressed. Critics say Meta’s push toward deeper encryption and minimal disclosure about proprietary ranking algorithms may hinder third-party audits.
User Rights and Appeals:
With increased automation in content moderation, users must have meaningful ways to appeal decisions. Observers note that Meta’s announcements have not specified whether appeals processes will be enhanced alongside new AI-driven moderation systems.
Data Governance and Consent:
Meta’s continued reliance on personalized advertising could come under scrutiny if user data is processed in ways that the DSA considers insufficiently transparent. The EU seeks stronger user consent mechanisms and clearer data usage disclosures, which might push Meta to adjust its business model in Europe.
Regulatory and Public Reactions
EU Officials:
While no formal statement has condemned Meta’s announcements outright, policymakers in Brussels remind all major platforms that “partial compliance” will not be enough under the DSA. Fines for non-compliance can reach up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue.
Digital Rights Advocates:
Several advocacy groups argue that fully end-to-end-encrypted messaging, while privacy-enhancing, should not exempt a platform from accountability measures. They urge Meta to release more details about how it will reconcile encryption with obligations to remove illegal content.
Meta’s Response:
Thus far, Meta has reiterated its commitment to meeting the “highest regulatory standards” in Europe, pointing to ongoing investments in safety, content moderation, and user privacy. However, no specific roadmap for DSA compliance has been published.
What Lies Ahead:
As the DSA comes fully into force, large platforms like Meta will be closely monitored for breaches. A key question is whether Meta can strike a balance between encryption, monetization via targeted ads, and the new transparency and accountability requirements. Failure to do so could result in hefty fines or even a partial suspension of services within the EU.
Ultimately, the coming months will reveal how Meta’s strategies align—or clash—with Europe’s digital vision. If Meta can demonstrate robust compliance and meaningful user protections, it may preserve its market stronghold. If not, a confrontation with Brussels seems inevitable. Either way, the outcome will have sweeping implications for how major tech firms operate under a stricter European regulatory regime.

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