The EU thinks Meta isn't doing enough to protect children

Source: Engadget

Derick Hudson/Getty Images

Background

The European Commission is moving toward fining Meta for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act based on the preliminary findings of an EU investigation, as reported by The Financial Times.

Meta’s terms require users to be at least 13 years old to access Facebook and Instagram. The EU investigation identified several issues with Meta’s approach to removing under‑age users, including:

• The ease with which users can lie about their age when creating an account.
• The complexity of reporting an under‑13 user to Meta.
• The use of an “incomplete and arbitrary risk assessment” regarding minors on the platforms.

EU Findings

The Commission states that Meta’s assessment conflicts with evidence showing that roughly 10‑12 % of children under 13 are accessing Instagram and/or Facebook. The EU also notes that Meta appears to have ignored scientific evidence indicating that younger children are more vulnerable to potential harms from these services.

The Commission is urging Instagram and Facebook to:

1. Strengthen tools for detecting and removing minors.
2. Revise their risk‑assessment methodology.

If Meta does not implement the required changes, it could face a fine of up to six percent of its worldwide annual revenue. Before any penalty is imposed, Meta can:

• Review the Commission’s investigation documents.
• Respond to the preliminary findings.
• Take remedial actions to address identified issues.

Meta’s Response

“We’re clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age,” Meta said in a statement to The Financial Times. “We continue to invest in technologies to find and remove underage users and will have more to share next week about additional measures rolling out soon.”

Investigation History

• The European Commission first opened its investigation into Meta’s platforms in 2024, focusing on child social‑media addiction.
• Preliminary findings are expected in 2026, coinciding with broader regulatory interest in age‑verification technology as a solution, despite noted privacy concerns.
• The EU has also developed its own age verification app, which could serve as a reference for other countries and companies.