Europe says Facebook, Twitter and Google need to improve user terms or face fines

Facebook, Twitter and Google have failed to impress EU authorities with their proposed revisions to user terms. The three companies have been under pressure to amend their terms to bring them in line with European law.

The European Commission and consumer protection authorities wrote to the tech giants last month, giving them until July 20th to submit proposals about their respective social networks. The companies have until September to implement changes that satisfy Europe, or fines could be handed out.

There are concerns in Europe about how the US-based companies are operating off home turf. In particular, Europe wanted changes made to terms that saw the companies trying to limit their liabilities, and the policies that controlled how illegal content is removed and permitted the removal of users' content.

Letters seen by Reuters show authorities asking for improvements to terms to be made by the end of September, and the agency also reports that two of the companies have indeed submitted revised proposals. A third has asked for more time to deal with the request, but it is not known which.

Europe is looking for the three companies to notify users when their content is removed or due to be removed, and give an opportunity for this decision to be challenged. On top of this, authorities are seeking more detail about the timeline for the removal of content deemed illegal under European law.

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