The European Commission on Wednesday dismissed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent assertions that the European Union’s (EU) laws regulating online content are effectively censorship on social media platforms.

A spokesperson for the European Commission, Thomas Regnier, clarified, “We don’t ask any platform to remove lawful content.” Regnier further explained the distinction between illegal content, which must be removed, and potentially harmful content, which falls into a grey area. The Commission expects platforms to take preventive measures to mitigate risks associated with harmful content to safeguard minors and democratic processes.

Paula Pinho, the Chief Spokesperson, firmly added, “We absolutely refuse any claims of censorship on our side.”

These statements came in response to comments made by Zuckerberg in a video released by Meta on Tuesday, where he suggested that the EU’s growing body of laws was institutionalizing censorship. Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta would join forces with US president-elect Donald Trump to combat governments infringing on the freedom of expression and pressuring American tech companies.

The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), effective since August 2023 for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) like Meta, remains the central framework governing online content regulation. The Commission recently initiated formal proceedings against Meta for potential breaches of the DSA in April 2024. Additionally, as part of the DSA, the European Commission has called on Meta to provide updates on its content monitoring strategies by August 2024. The EU’s focus remains on protecting fundamental rights and reducing the exposure of users to illegal content.