MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Big Tech and the principle of political neutrality

B9‑0100/2021

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Big Tech and the principle of political neutrality

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 143 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the recent suspension of US President Trump’s Twitter and Facebook accounts marked a worrying incursion by internet platforms into the political arena;

B. whereas in a recent article published in the January-February 2021 edition of the journal Foreign Affairs, entitled ‘How to Save Democracy From Technology’, Francis Fukuyama, Barak Richman and Ashish Goel denounced the disproportionate political influence of Big Tech companies and the threat they pose to democracy. They consider this threat to be much more dangerous than the economic risk posed by abuse of a dominant position in the global digital economy;

C. whereas Big Tech ‘can amplify or bury particular voices, thus having a disturbing influence on democratic political debate. The ultimate fear is that the platforms have amassed so much power that they could sway an election, either deliberately or unwittingly’;

D. whereas social networks are now an important tool for political communication;

1. Affirms that digital platforms must comply with the principle of political neutrality, in order to guarantee freedom of access and expression, which is an essential element of democratic debate.