The European Commission has proposed giving Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, powers to monitor public social media posts relating to migration and flag illegal content to online platforms.
The proposal has raised concerns among Members of the European Parliament and digital rights organisations, who argue that it could place online speech under the surveillance of a border enforcement agency.
The Commission unveiled the proposal on Tuesday as part of a broader overhaul of Frontex.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen told reporters that the agency would establish an online monitoring and response centre to track publicly available social media content, according to Eliza Gkritsi of Politico Europe.
The proposed centre would monitor online discussions and news relevant to border management while supporting efforts to address illegal content associated with potential border security risks.
Frontex would also seek accreditation as a trusted flagger under the EU’s Digital Services Act, according to the Commission’s press statement.
Under the legislation, online platforms are required to give priority to reports of illegal content submitted by trusted flaggers.
National regulators grant the status to organisations after assessing their expertise and independence.
Virkkunen later clarified that Frontex would have to apply for the designation, expressing confidence that regulators would approve its application because of the agency’s “special expertise”.
Frontex could also request that national authorities issue orders for the removal of illegal content.
Beyond the proposed social media monitoring powers, the wider overhaul focuses on deportations and expanding the agency’s operational capacity.
The Commission plans to increase Frontex’s standing corps to 30,000 officers.
The agency would also be empowered to support deportations from one non-EU country to another, The Brussels Times reported.
The European Commission is also proposing to double Frontex’s budget over the next seven years to strengthen its operational capacity.
