X must disclose recommendation algorithm to the EU

The EU Commission is expanding proceedings against social media provider X. The authority made the announcement in the afternoon in Brussels. This process is underway from December 2023 as part of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This move had been discussed for several weeks. It’s about further illuminating provider recommendation systems, Hanna Virkkunen, the new EU Commission vice-president, said in Brussels on Friday.

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reveal algorithm

The Commission is requiring Ax to release internal documents on its algorithms that recommend content to users by February 15, including disclosing changes to them. X last changed last July data storage location On Scala and Python versions of the recommendation algorithm on Github.

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Furthermore, the authority orders that all internal documents and information regarding future changes must be archived immediately and can no longer be deleted – this should come into effect from today until the end of the year. In addition, the DSA regulator requires access to some of X’s application programming interfaces (APIs).

The move had already been announced: In an interview with business news service Bloomberg, Hanna Virkkunen, visiting from Finland, had announced earlier in the week that the EU Commission was investigating an extension of the procedure that had previously been in place. Was going on since.

transparency required

In a letter to MEP Damien Boeslager (Volt), the Commission also revealed on Wednesday that it would demand “maximum transparency” from platform operators. “In this context, in accordance with Article 27 DSA, X must disclose the key parameters for its recommendation systems in its terms and conditions,” the letter said.

However, potential electoral interference by platform operators is fundamentally the responsibility of the Member States. For the federal election, a roundtable meeting with platform operators is scheduled to take place next week to discuss measures against potential interference from outside.

The EU Commission is responsible only for the largest companies under the Digital Services Act and also has the power to request all necessary information from companies in accordance with the law. He is allowed to interview witnesses such as current or former employees of the company concerned. If this comes to light during further investigation

(mma)