Breaking: Meta Fails Digital Services Act

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been found to be in breach of Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA) rules for failing to prevent children under 13 from using its services.

A preliminary decision issued by the European Commission on Wednesday stated that Meta does not have adequate measures in place to stop minors from accessing its platforms or to identify and remove those already on its services.

The Commission's ruling comes after an almost two-year investigation into Meta's practices. The company could face fines of up to $12 billion if it does not remedy the DSA breaches.

Background

The DSA, which came into effect in November 2022, requires online platforms to take measures to protect their users, particularly children, from harm.

One of the key issues identified by the Commission is that minors can easily sign up for Facebook and Instagram by entering a false birth date, declaring themselves to be over 13 years old - the minimum age required to use the services.

The Commission's decision is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the regulation of social media platforms and their impact on children.

"The Commission's ruling highlights the need for social media companies to take greater responsibility for protecting their users, particularly children," said a spokesperson for the European Commission.

Meta has been given time to respond to the Commission's preliminary decision and to make changes to its practices to comply with the DSA.