At a meeting between five Commissioners and representatives of online platforms on 9 January 2018, the Commission analysed the bulk of EU measures in tackling the spread of illegal content online. The meeting was designed to discuss progress made on this topic. It also fostered the voluntary collaboration between official authorities and private IT companies.

The Commission reiterated its viewpoint that IT companies not only play a key role in innovation and growth in the digital economy but also carry a significant societal responsibility in terms of protecting users and society as a whole. This was also set out in a Communication of 28 September 2017, entitled “Tackling Illegal Content Online – Towards an enhanced responsibility of online platforms.” This Communication lays down several guidelines and principles for online platforms to increase their proactive approaches as regards the prevention, detection, and removal of illegal content online.

Illegal content online includes online terrorist propaganda as well as xenophobic, racist, and illegal hate speech. It also extends to breaches of intellectual property rights. Above all, the EU currently encourages efforts towards the automated detection and removal of terrorist propaganda online.