EU sees Meta as unable to keep children under 13 off Facebook and Instagram
Kyiv • UNN
The European Union has accused Meta of failing to adequately protect children under 13 on Facebook and Instagram. The company faces a fine of up to 6% of its annual turnover.
The EU stated on Wednesday that Meta is failing in its task to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content and putting the tech giant at risk of a heavy fine, UNN reports, citing AFP.
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In recent months, the European Union has stepped up efforts to protect children online, and several member states are considering banning social media for those under 16.
The EU executive is also exploring the possibility of introducing age limits for social media at the bloc level following strong pressure for broader measures after Australia's unprecedented ban on the use of such platforms by persons under 16.
As part of the latest measures to strengthen child protection online, the EU stated that an investigation showed Meta is violating digital content rules and is demanding the American company "step up" measures to prevent, detect, and remove individuals under 13 from Facebook and Instagram.
According to Meta's own terms and conditions, the minimum age for accessing social media is 13 years.
In its preliminary finding, the EU established that Meta did not take effective measures to ensure compliance with its own restrictions regarding children's use of Facebook and Instagram.
"Terms and conditions should not just be written statements, but the basis for concrete actions to protect users, including children," said Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's Executive Vice-President responsible for the EU's tech sector.
If the regulator's opinion regarding Meta is confirmed, the EU could impose a fine of up to six percent of the company's total annual global turnover.
Meta disagreed with the EU's findings.
"We are clear that Instagram and Facebook are for people aged 13 and over, and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts of anyone under that age," a Meta spokesperson said, adding that the company will continue to engage with the EU.
The EU has promised to ensure that big tech companies take control of the numerous online dangers for children. In February, the EU issued an unprecedented warning to China's TikTok to change its "addictive" design or face heavy fines.
The preliminary findings regarding Meta, published Wednesday, come after the EU launched an investigation in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an online content law that has faced sharp criticism from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
The DSA is part of a strengthened legal toolkit adopted by the EU in recent years to stop what Brussels calls abuses by big tech companies.
European regulators found that children can easily create an account by providing a false date of birth and stated that Meta "lacks effective controls" for verification.
The EU also stated that Meta's tool for reporting the presence of children on Facebook or Instagram is "difficult to use and ineffective, requiring up to seven clicks just to access the reporting form."
Meta also "inadequately" identified the risks of children under 13 accessing the apps and the potential for exposure to "age-inappropriate content."
Brussels added that Meta's risk assessment "contradicts numerous data points" from across the EU indicating that about 10-12 percent of children under 13 use these platforms.
Meta can avoid fines by proposing measures to remedy the violations.
The investigation into Meta, launched in May 2024, is broad in nature.
EU regulators are still examining how Meta protects the physical and mental health of users, as well as the "addictive" design of Facebook and Instagram.
Alongside the EU's investigations into online platforms, Brussels stated this month that an EU-developed age verification app is ready for launch and is expected to be implemented in the coming months.
EU officials say the app is intended to replace pop-up banners asking users to confirm their age (over 18) to access adult content sites.
Last month, the EU stated that four pornographic platforms, including Pornhub, allow children to access adult content in violation of digital rules.
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