Meta’s measures are not effective at keeping children from accessing Facebook, Instagram, Commission claims.
Tech giant Meta is once again under fire for user safety concerns, as the company was found to be in breach of EU law for failing to prevent children (under 13s) from using its platforms, Instagram and Facebook.
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings which outlines that Meta did not implement effective measures to stop under-13s from accessing its sites – putting the company in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires it to “diligently identify and mitigate the risks” of under-13s using its platforms.
A Meta spokesperson has confirmed to The Guardian that age verification is an “industry-wide challenge, which requires an industry-wide solution” and that the company will continue to “engage constructively” with the commission.
“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. 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.”
Meta and other social media platforms have been repeatedly making headlines in recent months as reports surface alleging that they risked user safety to fuel algorithms and engagement – which obviously becomes much more sinister if age verification is repeatedly found to fail.
Meta’s market exit
Outside of the EU, similar stories are emerging. The tech firm is currently threatening to block access to its platforms, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in New Mexico.
Meta was found liable for child safety failures and fined $375 in a lawsuit, the second phase of which is scheduled to begin on Monday. The second phase will introduce the actions which the court determines the tech company is obligated to take, including a set of alterations to ensure the platforms are safe for underage users (under 16s).
“Many of the requests are technologically or practically infeasible and would essentially force Meta to build entirely separate apps for use only in New Mexico,” states Meta’s court filing.
“Therefore, granting onerous relief could compel Meta to entirely withdraw Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp from the state as the only feasible means of compliance.”
The alterations could consist of entirely new ‘Teen’ versions of Facebook and Instagram, the filing argues, which would be costly and technologically challenging.
Raul Torrez, New Mexico’s attorney general has pushed back against this, calling
“We know Meta has the ability to make these changes. For years, the company has rewritten its own rules, redesigned its products and even bent to the demands of dictators to preserve market access. This is not about technological capability. Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of engagement, advertising revenue and profit.”
Some countries have taken matters into their own hands, with Australia and Greece implementing a ban on social media for under 16s, and similar measures considered in the UK, as public opinion begins to turn towards more strict regulation for big tech.
