The European Union has formally charged Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram with breaching child safety rules under its landmark Digital Services Act, raising fresh concerns about online protection for minors.
According to EU regulators, the platforms failed to adequately prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing their services. The findings come after a two-year investigation into compliance with strict digital safety standards.
The case highlights growing scrutiny of major tech companies under the Facebook Instagram EU charges, which could result in penalties of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue if violations are confirmed.
EU officials stated that between 10% and 12% of children under 13 in Europe are still using Facebook and Instagram, despite existing restrictions and policies designed to block underage users.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen said preliminary findings show that both platforms are not doing enough to effectively enforce age restrictions or remove underage accounts in a timely manner.
The Facebook Instagram EU charges also focus on Meta’s risk assessment systems, which regulators say must be improved to better detect, prevent, and eliminate access by minors.
Meta has responded by saying it disagrees with the findings and already uses systems to detect and remove accounts belonging to children under 13. The company also plans to introduce additional safety measures soon.
The European Commission has given Meta the opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. If compliance is still deemed insufficient, further penalties or fines may follow in the coming months.
The case reflects increasing global pressure on social media companies to strengthen child safety protections and address concerns over the impact of digital platforms on young users.
