RNW Media is concerned with the refusal of very large online platforms and search engines, namely Meta, TikTok, X, and Google, to engage in debate at the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament. As reported by Dutch broadcaster NOS, a group of parties including GL-PvdA, PVV, NSC, D66, BBB, and Volt wanted to discuss “algorithms and interference” ahead of the national elections scheduled for October 29th.
As highlighted in reports, such as International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy, electoral integrity in the 21st century is intricately connected to social media discourse and algorithmic curation of content. Disinformation, in particular, is listed as one of the key threats to the integrity of electoral systems. In fact, the World Economic Forum has cited (online) disinformation and deception as one of the greatest short-term threats to society in its Global Risks Report of 2025.
At RNW Media, we work to strengthen digital information ecosystems by upholding information integrity and media viability to ensure that digital media spaces are safe, reliable, and inclusive for all. An important aspect of this work entails the interlocution of different stakeholders with technology companies, and especially the Big Tech that shapes and influences much of the online information ecosystem today. Representatives of the Tweede Kamer, therefore, have the right to represent its electorate in conversations that bring more transparency and accountability to the democratic field.
The same is relevant for monitoring and applicability of the Digital Services Act. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markers (ACM) informed twelve very large online platforms and search engines about the 2025 elections. Amidst that, the European Union also established new rules on political advertising online, which prioritized stronger labelling of political content and stricter financial rules, to prevent foreign interference among other types of information exploitation. In response, Meta resorted to end advertising all-together for any content regarding political, electoral, and social issues instead of abiding by the new rules introduced by the EU. Yet, in practice, political ads are still visible on Meta’s platforms, as identified by Dr. Fabio Votta, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam.
To ensure fair and democratic elections, it is crucial that we continue to strive for dialogue and transparency, especially when it comes to foreign technology companies that exert disproportionate influence and control of online spaces. Silence and disengagement from major platforms only further deepen the opacity of and mistrust in the digital influence on democratic processes. RNW Media urges both the Tweede Kamer and the European Union to maintain pressure on the technology companies for oversight and accountability. True transparency cannot depend on voluntary compliance and instead must be a standard embedded in how technology companies operate and are regulated within our democracies.