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The European Union (EU) is cracking down on Meta (formerly Facebook) with a formal investigation into its handling of child safety on Facebook and Instagram. Announced on Thursday, the probe centers on concerns that Meta’s platforms may be harming children’s mental and physical well-being.

The EU Commission will carefully examine if Meta is going against the DSA

The EU Commission will specifically examine whether Meta is violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Here are the key areas of concern:

  • Addiction and Algorithmic Manipulation: The EU worries that Facebook and Instagram’s design and algorithms could be fostering “behavioral addictions” in children, essentially trapping them in endless content loops.
  • Inappropriate Content and Age Verification: The investigation will assess if Meta is doing enough to shield minors from harmful content and if its age verification tools are truly effective in preventing underage access.
  • Privacy and Safety for Minors: The EU will also scrutinize whether Meta’s content recommendation systems and default privacy settings adequately prioritize the privacy, safety, and security of children on its platforms.
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This probe follows Meta’s recent efforts to improve child safety on its platforms, like restricting access to harmful content and limiting interactions with suspicious adult accounts. However, the EU’s investigation suggests these efforts might not be sufficient.

The Commission will now gather further evidence and determine the course of action. While no deadline exists for the investigation, the EU can take temporary enforcement measures against Meta during this period. If found in violation of the DSA, Meta could face hefty fines of up to 6% of its global revenue. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the bloc’s resolve, stating, “we are sparing no effort to protect youth.”

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