“The recent sharing and dissemination of a video allegedly depicting the rape of a minor by three youths in Portugal is very concerning. In the same vein, photographs taken from under women’s skirts at a university have been shared. These horrific acts violate not only fundamental rights but also raise serious questions about online safety and the protection of individuals, particularly women, in the digital space,” described the PS parliamentarian in a written question sent today to the European Commission.
Addressing “disturbing events, which are unfortunately just two of many,” Ana Catarina Mendes questions Brussels on how, under the new law for digital services regulating major online platforms, the Commission will ensure that social media platforms quickly remove harmful content, possibly through fines imposed on these companies.
“What measures is the Commission taking to prevent the re-uploading or dissemination of the video,” and, “more broadly, what steps will the Commission take to ensure that social media platforms meet their obligations to prevent the spread of non-consensual material?” Ana Catarina Mendes also queries.
The socialist MEP further seeks to know whether Portuguese authorities have demanded the removal of such content from social platforms.
In statements to the news agency Lusa, Ana Catarina Mendes emphasized that “spreading videos of this nature is inadmissible as it violates everyone’s dignity.”
“This is a good example of how European Union laws impact member states and make a difference. Now what is needed is to ascertain whether the European Commission and the Portuguese state are doing everything within their power to prevent such situations from recurring,” she added.
Recently, Portugal has been the scene of two alarming cases related to the violation of privacy and dignity of women and minors, such as the posting on social media of an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl in Loures by three youths known in the digital sphere, and the capturing and sharing of photographs and videos of female students from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto in chat groups.
The European Union’s Digital Services Act, adopted in 2022, aims to create a safer and more transparent online environment, establishing stricter rules for large digital platforms operating within the community space, such as social networks Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
The new legislation mandates the removal of illegal and harmful content by these platforms.
Ana Catarina Mendes’s letter was endorsed by the Portuguese socialist delegation.
