The exercise, known as a Stress Test, featured several fictitious scenarios whose aim is to identify and reduce potential risks related to the elections, as defined under the Digital Services Act. The Stress Test aims to test platforms’ readiness to address behaviours on these platforms which could occur in the run-up to the elections and could pose a risk related to civic discourse and electoral processes.
Participants in the Stress Test included representatives of Google (YouTube), LinkedIn, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, TikTok, X, as well as of national authorities and civil society organisations.
On 24 January, the German DSC also hosted a roundtable with the same participants to exchange on current election-related trends, as well as risk-minimising measures by major online platforms and search engines.
The Commission also organised a similar Stress Test with designated platforms, DSCs and civil society organisations in April 2024 ahead of the European elections to assess their readiness against election manipulation and interference.
Find out more information on the recent Stress Test.