The fightback against AI CSAM, EU goes after TikTok (again) and a slice of Citron
Hello and welcome to Everything in Moderation's Week in Review, your in-depth guide to the policies, products, platforms and people shaping the future of online speech and the internet. It's written by me, Ben Whitelaw and supported by members like you.
Before I dive into today's stories, a quick note of thanks to all of you who open, read and share EiM every week and who get in touch with feedback. A huge amount of work goes into the newsletter (which is why it's three hours late today) and Monday's T&S Insider but it's worth it when so many of you reach out to say its helpful for your work or research. Thank you for your support.
Also put 31st May in your diary - I'm going to hold a virtual party to celebrate the 250th edition of the newsletter. More details soon.
Here's all you need to know from the last seven days — BW
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Policies
New and emerging internet policy and online speech regulation
I'm not sure what they put in the coffee at the European Commission this week but there has been a whole slew of Digital Services Act news this week:
- Six EU countries faced infringement procedures for failing to appoint Digital Service Co-ordinators or empowering regulators to carry out enforcement. I wrote about how countries were struggling to push through legislation and find talent for these agencies (EiM #233).
- TikTok became the subject of a second Commission investigation this week following the failure to submit a risk assessment ahead of the launch of TikTok lite in France and Spain last month. The investigation centres around the “addictive effect” of its Task and Reward program, which TikTok voluntarily suspended.
- Platforms took part in an EU Commission-organised workshop on Wednesday to stress test election guidelines released last month.
- Three more platforms were designated as Very Large Online Platforms, all of them, you guessed it, porn sites.