EU Charges Meta Over Failure To Block Under-13s From Facebook And Instagram Under Digital Services Act

Meta charged by EU regulators for failing to stop under-13s accessing Facebook and Instagram, breaching Digital Services Act rules.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been formally charged by European Commission regulators for allegedly failing to adequately protect children under the age of 13 from accessing its platforms, in breach of the bloc’s landmark Digital Services Act (DSA).

The charges, announced on Wednesday, follow a two-year investigation by the Commission into whether the social media giant has complied with rules requiring Big Tech companies to tackle illegal and harmful content online.

According to the EU’s findings, Meta has not done enough to enforce its own age restrictions on both Facebook and Instagram. Regulators said the company’s systems for identifying and removing underage users remain insufficient, despite clear rules barring children under 13 from using the platforms.

The Commission estimates that between 10 and 12 per cent of children under 13 in Europe are currently using Facebook and Instagram, raising concerns about exposure to harmful content and inadequate safeguards.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen criticised the company’s approach, stating: “Our preliminary findings show that Instagram and Facebook are doing very little to prevent children below this age from accessing their services.”

She added: “Terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users – including children.”

The Commission said Meta must revise its risk assessment methodology and significantly strengthen its measures to prevent, detect and remove underage users from its platforms.