BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
The European Commission has accused Meta Platforms of failing to adequately prevent underage users from accessing its social media platforms, raising concerns that the company may be breaching the bloc’s strict digital regulations designed to safeguard children online.
In findings released Wednesday, the Commission said Meta does not have sufficiently effective systems in place to stop children under the age of 13 from creating accounts on Facebook and Instagram, both of which formally prohibit users below that age. Regulators also concluded that the company is not doing enough to detect and remove accounts belonging to underage users once they have joined the platforms.
Beyond the issue of access, European officials highlighted broader risks tied to child safety, arguing that Meta has not adequately assessed or mitigated the exposure of younger users to content and experiences deemed inappropriate for their age. The Commission said these shortcomings could leave minors vulnerable to harmful material or interactions, underscoring the need for stronger preventative safeguards.
Meta pushed back against the allegations, maintaining that it has already implemented measures to identify and remove accounts belonging to users under 13. The company described age verification as a complex, industry-wide challenge that cannot be solved by a single platform acting alone.
In a statement, Meta said it remains committed to working with regulators and indicated that additional tools and policies aimed at strengthening age detection and user protections are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The case forms part of a broader enforcement effort under the Digital Services Act, a sweeping regulatory framework that came into force to compel major technology companies to take greater responsibility for the safety and integrity of their platforms. The legislation imposes strict obligations on firms operating within the European Union, including requirements to assess systemic risks, enforce platform rules, and protect vulnerable users such as children.
Under the DSA, companies found to be in violation of the rules can face significant financial penalties, with fines reaching up to 6% of global annual turnover. Meta now has the opportunity to respond formally to the Commission’s preliminary findings before a final decision is issued.
Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice president at the Commission, said the investigation—launched in 2024—found that Meta’s platforms were falling short of their own stated policies. She emphasized that simply setting a minimum age requirement is not sufficient if it is not effectively enforced in practice.
According to Virkkunen, the DSA obliges companies to translate their terms and conditions into concrete action, particularly when it comes to protecting minors. Regulators expect platforms not only to define rules but to actively ensure those rules are upheld through robust systems and oversight mechanisms.
The scrutiny of Meta comes amid a wider regulatory push in Europe targeting major social media and technology firms over concerns about user safety, addictive platform design, and the impact of digital services on younger audiences. As enforcement actions gather pace, the outcome of the Commission’s investigation could set an important precedent for how strictly the EU intends to apply its landmark digital regulations.
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