Snapchat Faces EU Investigation Over Child Safety & Illegal Goods

Snapchat Under EU Investigation for Child Safety and Illegal Goods

Snapchat is facing a formal investigation by the European Commission over concerns it is failing to protect children from harmful content and illegal activities on its platform. The probe, launched on Thursday, March 26, 2026, centers on whether Snapchat complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark EU law designed to regulate online platforms and protect users.

DSA Scrutiny and Potential Penalties

The European Commission’s investigation falls under the DSA, which requires large online platforms to actively tackle illegal and harmful content. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of a company’s global annual sales. This investigation follows similar probes into other tech giants, including Meta, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Temu, and Shein [1, 2].

Specific Concerns Raised by the Commission

According to the European Commission, Snapchat may be exposing minors to several risks, including:

• Grooming attempts and recruitment for criminal purposes: The Commission suspects that adults may be misrepresenting themselves to target children.
• Information about illegal goods: Concerns exist regarding the availability of information related to the sale of drugs, vapes, and alcohol on the platform.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated, “Snapchat appears to have overlooked that the Digital Services Act demands high safety standards for all users.” [2]

Areas of Focus for the Investigation

The Commission’s investigation will focus on five key areas:

1. Age Verification: Regulators question the effectiveness of Snapchat’s reliance on self-declaration for age assurance.
2. Content Moderation: The Commission believes Snapchat’s tools for removing inappropriate content are insufficient.
3. Reporting Mechanisms: Concerns have been raised about the accessibility of tools for reporting underage users.
4. Account Settings: The investigation will examine whether default account settings adequately protect minors.
5. Dark Patterns: Regulators will assess whether Snapchat’s design incorporates manipulative elements that could harm users.

The Commission will as well seize over an existing investigation initiated by Dutch regulators in September regarding the sale of vapes to children on Snapchat. [1]

Snapchat’s User Base and DSA Implications

Snapchat has 94.7 million monthly users in the EU, making it a popular platform among teenagers and young people. [3] The DSA aims to protect European society from a wide range of internet harms, including those affecting children. [3]

This investigation underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by social media platforms to ensure the safety and well-being of their users, particularly children, under the evolving regulatory landscape of the Digital Services Act.