EU accuses Meta over minors

The European Commission said Wednesday that Meta likely broke the Digital Services Act by failing to keep children under 13 off Facebook and Instagram. (ec.europa.eu) The Commission said Meta did not adequately identify, assess and reduce the risk that under-13s could access the two services. It said children can create accounts by entering false birth dates. (ec.europa.eu) (cnbc.com) Regulators also said Meta’s tool for reporting an underage account is hard to use and can require as many as seven clicks to reach the form. (cnbc.com) (nytimes.com) The case is a new stage in an investigation the Commission opened on May 16, 2024, into Meta’s handling of risks to minors on Facebook and Instagram. (ec.europa.eu 1) (ec.europa.eu 2) Under the Digital Services Act, platforms designated as very large online platforms must assess systemic risks and take proportionate steps to reduce them. A preliminary finding does not end the case, but it can lead to a formal non-compliance decision and fines. (ec.europa.eu 1) (ec.europa.eu 2) The Commission said Meta can now examine the investigation file and reply in writing before any final decision. The law allows penalties of up to 6% of a company’s total worldwide annual turnover. (ec.europa.eu) Meta said it has “developed a range of tools and protections to support age-appropriate experiences for teens” and said it would keep working with the Commission. (nytimes.com) (theverge.com) The Commission said about one in 10 children under 13 in the European Union use Facebook or Instagram, underscoring how widely the age-check problem persists. (euronews.com) (politico.eu) The move adds to a broader European push on child safety online after the Commission separately accused TikTok in February of using design features that can pull minors into compulsive use. (politico.eu) (ec.europa.eu) For Meta, the next step is not a courtroom hearing but a written defense to Brussels. For the European Union, it is another test of whether the Digital Services Act can force product changes at the biggest platforms. (ec.europa.eu)