European Commission’s Inquiry into Facebook and Instagram for Child Safety Violations
The European Commission is planning to perform an investigation into potential violations of European legislation concerning online content that threatens child safety by Facebook and Instagram. Both platforms are owned by Meta. The violation could result in hefty fines for the company.
Facebook and Instagram Under the New Digital Services Act (DSA)
According to the European “Digital Services Act” (DSA) that came into effect last year, tech companies are responsible for implementing established measures to counter malicious and dangerous content. The commission plans a comprehensive investigation into Facebook and Instagram due to concerns that these platforms have failed to effectively mitigate risks for minors. Meta had presented its risk assessment report in September last year.
“The Commission is worried that the systems of Facebook and Instagram, including their algorithms, may induce behavioral addictions in children, as well as creating so-called ‘rabbit hole effects’. Moreover, the Commission is also concerned about the age verification methods used by Meta,” a representative of the institution said. The regulator’s concern is linked to children’s access to inappropriate content.
Meta Facing Regulatory Scrutiny Across Europe
There has already been unwanted attention from European officials towards the Meta company due to the misinformation issues during elections. This is especially significant in light of the European Parliament elections scheduled for June. Violations of the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of the concerned company’s annual global turnover.
