As if the fake news tide is the only wave tech companies have to navigate out, Russian propaganda bots and trolls are already taking a toll on the Internet. And now the EU is not messing around regarding having tech companies remove content they flagged as illegal in less than one hour.
If there is a time that the role and might of tech companies are being put to test, then it is right now.

Back in February, two individuals brought a case to Germans highest court seeking to have Google stop displaying links in future Search results of a site whose owners were attacked by Internet users. Their argument was that Search Engines should put in place search filters to remove links that offend site owners, information on those who post the offending comments besides paying for damages caused.

Though the Federal Court of Justice dismissed the case on grounds that search engines do not necessarily have to check if content adheres to the rules, but only take action if informed of a clear violation of individual rights. The petition brings to focus the role of search engines and  ‘Right to be Forgotten’ debate that Europeans have asked Google close to 2.4 million times.

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But now, the EU thinks otherwise regarding content and is demanding that Google, Facebook, and Twitter step up their game by removing content flagged as illegal from their platforms in less than one hour. This includes content related to piracy issues, copyright infringement, terrorism, counterfeit products and sexual abuse material.
The commissions latest move, however, begs a lot of question: Are search supposed to vet website? And if so, should they also be held liable for inappropriate content showing on their platforms?
And if the fake news violence is still a major headache for search engines, will the one-hour ultimatum the EU has set for the removal of content flagged as illegal be ever achieved? Your thoughts…

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