EU Investigation into Child Protection Concerns on Facebook and Instagram

The EU has initiated a formal inquiry into Meta due to worries that its social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, are not adequately safeguarding the mental and physical well-being of children.

The European Union has stated that Meta could potentially be in violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a legislation enacted by the commission in 2023 that holds digital companies accountable for disseminating disinformation, engaging in fraudulent practices, promoting child abuse, and perpetrating other types of harm on the internet.

The EU commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, announced in a statement on the EU’s official website that formal proceedings against Meta will be opened today. This decision was made due to concerns that Meta has not taken sufficient action to meet its obligations under the DSA in terms of protecting the physical and mental well-being of young Europeans on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.

The inquiry will delve into the potential “rabbit hole”impact of the platforms, in which the algorithm exposes children to harmful content. The European Union will also assess the proficiency of Meta’s age verification measures and protection of minors’ privacy. Breton affirmed, “We are fully committed to safeguarding our children.”

The investigation will additionally examine if Meta’s content recommendations and default privacy settings are sufficient in protecting the privacy, safety, and security of minors.

“Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president for a Europe fit for the digital age, has expressed concerns about the potential for Facebook and Instagram to encourage behavioural addiction. Furthermore, she believes that the age verification methods implemented by Meta on their services are insufficient and has announced plans for a thorough investigation.”

If the allegations are confirmed, it could be considered a violation of DSA, which may result in a 6% penalty on Meta’s worldwide income. The EU has not set a specific deadline for the investigation and has the power to implement temporary enforcement actions against Meta during the process.

Meta continues to prioritize child safety on Facebook and Instagram by implementing various measures. These include introducing features such as restricting access to harmful content for children and restricting their interactions with potentially dangerous adult accounts.