Removal of a Bulgarian civic initiative’s Facebook page and the need to safeguard civic space under the Digital Services Act (DSA)

Priority question for written answer P-003989/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikola Minchev (Renew)

On 19 September 2025, Meta reportedly removed the Facebook page of the Bulgarian civic initiative 'Justice for Everyone', a movement that advocates for judicial independence and the rule of law in Bulgaria.

Meta subsequently acknowledged that the page had not breached its community standards and justified the removal on unspecified 'cybersecurity' grounds. The civic initiative has requested clarification on whether this measure resulted from a formal request by Bulgarian authorities and, if so, whether it was based on a valid judicial decision, as required under the DSA[1].

As social media are vital tools for peaceful assembly and civic participation, the continued suspension of such a page risks limiting citizens' ability to organise and express legitimate democratic demands.

• 1.Is the Commission aware of this case, and has it liaised with the Irish digital services coordinator or Bulgarian authorities to verify the legality of the removal and the existence of any underlying national order?
• 2.How does the Commission ensure that cooperation channels between online platforms and national authorities established under the DSA are not misused to restrict fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression?
• 3.Does the Commission intend to provide further guidance or consider additional safeguards to prevent platforms from acting on vague or politically motivated 'security' justifications that could have a chilling effect on civic movements within the Union?

Submitted: 10.10.2025

• [1] OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: https://http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj (https://http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).