Meta shuts down Romania’s largest independent newspaper page, sparking press freedom concerns

Meta has removed the Facebook page of Gandul, 1 of Romania’s astir salient autarkic integer newspapers, without anterior warning—triggering beardown backlash implicit property state and level accountability.

The verified page, which had much than 1 cardinal followers, was abruptly deactivated connected February 22. In a sharply worded editorial published yesterday, Gandul described the determination arsenic an “attack connected autarkic journalism” and a “serious menace to property state and the Romanian public’s close to information.”

Criticism Over Canceled 2024 Romanian Presidential Election

Gandul has been openly captious of the cancellation of Romania’s 2024 statesmanlike election. The determination by the Constitutional Court of Romania to suspend the full electoral process aft the archetypal round—won by Calin Georgescu—has been described by the outlet arsenic profoundly problematic and harmful to the country’s democracy.

“Years of Journalism Erased With One Click”

Despite holding Facebook’s bluish verification badge, Gαndul accuses Meta of wiping retired years of journalistic enactment “with a azygous click.” The outlet besides claims Meta operates successful Romania without paying section taxes, creating unfair contention successful the media market.

According to the newspaper, the shutdown occurred without notice, starring to a melodramatic illness successful its reach.

Within conscionable 1 day, Gandul estimates it mislaid betwixt 6 and 7 cardinal regular views and astir 200 cardinal monthly views crossed Facebook and its website—dealing a terrible stroke to its assemblage and advertizing revenue.

The publication, which describes itself arsenic Romania’s astir influential absorption media outlet, said Meta cited lone a vague copyright ailment successful backstage communication, without identifying the circumstantial contented oregon providing a meaningful accidental to appeal.

No Response From Meta, Failed Appeals

Repeated attempts to reconstruct the leafage done Facebook’s modular reappraisal process person truthful acold failed. Meta has not issued immoderate nationalist connection connected the matter.

The deficiency of connection has reinforced Gandul’s claims that the determination constitutes a nonstop regularisation connected autarkic journalism and the Romanian public’s close to entree information.

Possible Breach of EU Digital Services Act (DSA)

Under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), Meta—designated arsenic a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) owed to its cognition of Facebook—has circumstantial obligations erstwhile restricting oregon removing content, accounts, oregon full pages similar Gandul’s.

Platforms are besides required to taxable information connected specified decisions to the DSA Transparency Database.

Formal Complaints Filed With Romanian and EU Authorities

Gandul has formally appealed to Romanian authorities—including Parliament, the government, the ANCOM, the Competition Council, and the European Commission—calling for an probe into what it describes arsenic an maltreatment of ascendant marketplace presumption nether nationalist and EU law.

Political Tensions Rise Over Prosecutor Appointments

Meanwhile, Romania is facing further contention implicit a determination by interim President Nicușor Dan to name apical prosecutors.

Late yesterday, the president signed decrees appointing Cristina Cîrîac arsenic Prosecutor General, Viorel Cerbu arsenic caput of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), on with different elder officials.

The determination came contempt antagonistic opinions from the Superior Council of Magistracy and beardown objections from civilian nine groups and journalists who had supported Dan’s predetermination campaign.

Critics, including erstwhile Justice Minister Stelian Ion, pass that the appointments could undermine Romania’s anti-corruption efforts, citing allegations that Cîrîac antecedently concealed grounds successful a high-profile intersexual maltreatment case.

President Dan defended his choices arsenic professionally justified and rejected claims of governmental interference…