Facebook (Meta), TikTok, X, and Google did not send representatives to a planned Tweede Kamer session on “algorithms and interference” during the election period. MPs from GroenLinks-PvdA, PVV, NSC, D66, BBB, and Volt had asked the platforms to explain what they are doing to limit manipulation and disinformation. TikTok and X did not respond; Google said the notice came too late to arrange attendance, NL Times reported. Lawmakers said they want clarity on how recommendation systems shape what voters see and what safeguards platforms have in place.
Why this matters
European and Dutch rules are tightening around online campaigning and platform accountability. Under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and new political-ad transparency rules, platforms face stricter duties to police deceptive content and disclose who pays for political advertising. Meta recently said it will pause political ads across the EU from October 2025 to comply with a new EU transparency law, while Google has also adjusted its policies: moves that will affect how campaigns can reach voters online.
Photo Credits: Aman Pal/Unsplash
Dutch context
Courts and regulators in the Netherlands have sharpened scrutiny ahead of national voting. Earlier this month, a Dutch court ordered Meta to make it easier for users to choose chronological, non-profiled feeds, framing default algorithmic feeds as a risk to user autonomy during elections. Meanwhile, EU investigations into TikTok’s ad transparency under the DSA remain ongoing, underscoring broader concerns about opaque targeting and the risk of foreign interference.
What’s next
MPs can still press platforms through written questions, future hearings with more notice, or coordination with the European Commission’s DSA enforcement team, which can demand risk-mitigation plans for elections. If Dutch authorities see ongoing risks, they may also escalate to national regulators or courts, as seen in the Meta ruling. For voters and parties, expect fewer paid political ads on major platforms and continued debate over how algorithmic feeds shape the campaign information environment.
