EU Consumer Groups Accuse Google, Meta, and Others of Failing to Curb Fraud

According to the Central News Agency, multiple EU consumer groups have accused Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms, and TikTok of failing to adequately protect users from financial scams on their platforms, putting these companies at risk of regulatory fines. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 29 member groups from 27 European countries filed complaints with the European Commission and national regulators under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires large online platforms to combat illegal and harmful content. BEUC head Agustin Reyna stated that these companies not only fail to proactively remove scam ads but also provide limited responses to reports. While Google and Meta deny the allegations, emphasizing their proactive measures, consumer groups reported that out of nearly 900 suspected scam ads reported between December and March, only 27% were removed. Under the DSA, fines can reach up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.