Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 1 July 2026, stressed that Meta's election operations centres in the EU must comply with the Digital Services Act's transparency and risk mitigation obligations, while noting that the Commission is already investigating Meta's handling of political content. The answer, responding to a question from MEPs Sandro Ruotolo and Nicola Zingaretti, signals that the Commission is monitoring whether Meta's internal structures—including the use of staff with intelligence backgrounds—meet DSA requirements, but stops short of announcing new probes.
The question had raised concerns about Meta's 'elections operations centres', which the company activates during elections to monitor disinformation and coordinated interference. The MEPs noted that Meta has not disclosed selection criteria, chain of command, or operational procedures for these teams, which have included former US intelligence personnel during Italian and European elections. They also pointed to independent analyses showing significant variations in political content visibility during election periods.
Virkkunen's answer confirms the Commission is aware of the centres but does not provide specific information on their structure or oversight. Instead, she reiterates that the DSA requires very large online platforms like Meta to assess and mitigate systemic risks to civic discourse and electoral processes, and that the Commission's Election Guidelines further specify best practices, including on staff expertise. She adds that the Commission will not hesitate to use enforcement powers if non-compliance is suspected.
The answer references the ongoing formal proceedings against Meta, initiated in 2024, over suspicion that Meta demotes political content in its recommender systems on Facebook and Instagram. That investigation focuses on whether Meta's political content policy complies with DSA transparency and user redress obligations. Virkkunen notes that the Commission has sent several requests for information to Meta but declines to comment further on specific aspects of the ongoing investigation.
The answer is largely declarative, offering no new concrete measures or deadlines. It reaffirms existing DSA obligations and points to the ongoing investigation as the primary vehicle for addressing the MEPs' concerns. The Commission's stance suggests it is relying on existing enforcement tools rather than launching a separate inquiry into the election operations centres themselves.
For Meta, the answer signals continued regulatory scrutiny but no immediate escalation. For EU citizens, the ongoing investigation may eventually lead to greater transparency around political content moderation. For national authorities and civil society, the answer provides little new information on how Meta's internal election monitoring structures operate. For other platforms, the answer reinforces that DSA obligations extend to internal operational teams and staffing choices, potentially setting a precedent for future enforcement.