Meta Faces EU Scrutiny Over Child Safety on Facebook and Instagram

The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to adequately protect children under 13 on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. The investigation highlights concerns over the ease with which minors can circumvent age restrictions and the difficulties in reporting underage users.

DSA Violations: What the Commission Found

According to the European Commission’s preliminary investigation, Meta’s current measures are insufficient to prevent access to Instagram and Facebook by children under the age of 13. The Commission found that minors can easily bypass age verification systems by entering false birthdates during account creation, with no effective checks in place to validate the information. European Commission

the process for reporting a minor’s account is cumbersome, requiring users to navigate through up to seven clicks to access the reporting form. Even after a report is submitted, the Commission found that follow-up actions and measures to remove the underage user from the platform are often inadequate. European Commission

Meta’s Response and DSA Compliance Efforts

Meta has publicly disagreed with the preliminary findings, stating its commitment to preventing underage users from accessing its platforms. A Meta spokesperson told CNBC, “We’re clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age.” The company also indicated plans to share additional measures in the near future.

The investigation comes as Meta has been increasing its efforts to comply with the DSA, a comprehensive set of regulations designed to create a safer digital space for users in the European Union. In 2023, Meta assembled a cross-functional team of over 1,000 people to address the DSA’s requirements, focusing on transparency and user control. About Facebook

An independent audit of Facebook and Instagram found that Meta had solutions in place for all 54 sub-articles assessed, with over 90% deemed fully compliant. The remaining 10% received a “except for” conclusion, indicating that adjustments were needed to fully meet the DSA requirements. Notably, Meta did not receive any “adverse” conclusions, meaning no areas were found to be fully non-compliant. About Facebook

Implications and Future Outlook

The European Commission’s findings underscore the ongoing challenges in protecting children online and enforcing age restrictions on social media platforms. This preliminary finding could lead to significant fines for Meta if the company fails to address the identified shortcomings. The case highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by large tech companies under the DSA and the growing pressure to prioritize user safety, particularly for vulnerable populations like children.

Key Takeaways

• The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in breach of the DSA for failing to protect children under 13 on Facebook and Instagram.
• Minors can easily bypass age verification systems by providing false birthdates.
• The reporting process for underage accounts is cumbersome and often lacks effective follow-up.
• Meta is actively working to comply with the DSA but faces ongoing challenges in enforcing age restrictions.