Microsoft and LinkedIn Promise Increased Ad Transparency
On Friday, Microsoft pledged to offer additional details regarding targeted advertisements and ensure user protection against potential risks arising from artificial intelligence, in response to the implementation of strict EU regulations on technology platforms.
Internet giants must now implement the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires them to protect users online from harmful content and be more transparent about algorithms.
The European Union has named 19 platforms, most of which are based in the United States, including Microsoft’s Bing and LinkedIn, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.
Starting Friday, the rules apply to these “very large” social media networks and websites.
One of the most important requirements of the DSA is the requirement to provide users with non-personalized input that is not based on profiling.
LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, said in a blog post on Friday that it had implemented this change in the desktop and mobile version of the network.
Artificial intelligence has also dominated the headlines with its dizzying progress since ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI and invested in by Microsoft, burst onto the market last year.
The EU aims to adopt the world’s first law regulating artificial intelligence by the end of the year.
Courtney Gregoire, Microsoft’s director of digital security, vowed in a blog post that Microsoft is “putting additional safeguards in place to protect against new AI-related risks as they emerge and will continue to be open about our approach.”
Gregoire said Microsoft’s other steps to comply with the DSA include the creation of an “Ad Library,” which will give European users access to information about the ads they see on the platform.
LinkedIn has taken the same step.
Gregoire added that Microsoft will also “better explain to users how Bing Search works, including its ranking policies, monitoring practices, and user controls.”
Snap-owned Snapchat also announced changes to its app this week, which include controlling what content users see and limiting targeted advertising to 13- to 17-year-olds in the EU, but also in the UK.
