EU: Facebook, Instagram accused of rule violations; urged to safeguard kids under 13

• The EU found that 10-12% of children under 13 in Europe currently use Facebook and Instagram, despite Meta's stated age restrictions
• Meta must change its risk assessment methodology and strengthen measures to detect and remove minors from its platforms
• Violations of the Digital Services Act can result in fines up to 6% of a company's global annual turnover

EU Charges Meta with Digital Services Act Violations Over Child Safety

The European Commission has formally charged Meta Platforms with violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to adequately protect children under 13 on Facebook and Instagram. The charges follow a two-year investigation into the social media giant's enforcement of age restrictions.

Key Findings:

According to EU regulators, 10-12% of children under 13 in Europe currently use Facebook and Instagram, despite Meta's stated policies prohibiting such access. The Commission found that Meta's existing measures are insufficient to prevent, detect, and remove underage users from its platforms.

Regulatory Requirements:

The DSA mandates that Big Tech companies take stronger action against illegal and harmful content. The Commission criticized Meta for treating terms and conditions as "mere written statements" rather than implementing concrete protective measures. Meta must now revise its risk assessment methodology and strengthen safeguards for minors.

Financial Implications:

If found guilty of DSA violations, Meta faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover—a substantial financial penalty that could significantly impact the company's bottom line.

Next Steps:

Meta has the opportunity to respond to the charges and implement corrective measures before the Commission issues a final decision. The case represents a significant test of the EU's new digital regulatory framework and its enforcement powers over major technology platforms.

The charges underscore increasing regulatory pressure on social media companies regarding child safety and highlight the EU's commitment to holding tech giants accountable for platform governance and user protection.