Apps
Games
Phones
The European Commission announced yesterday (May 16) that Facebook and
Instagram are facing another investigation.
This time, the investigation focuses on whether the companies'
safeguards for children on their platforms meet the requirements of the Digital
Services Act (DSA). The DSA is a new set
of rules designed to ensure online safety, especially for children. The
Commission is checking if the platforms are doing enough to protect minors from
harmful content and online risks.
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The European Commission is taking a closer look at Facebook and
Instagram, specifically how their design might lead young people to get hooked
on the platforms. The committee is concerned that the apps might be built in a
way that takes advantage of children's vulnerabilities and lack of experience,
making them more prone to addiction.
They're also examining how well Meta (the company that owns Facebook and
Instagram) is protecting children from inappropriate content. This includes
looking into their age verification tools and whether they are truly effective,
fair, and reasonable.
Beyond these specific concerns, the committee is also checking whether
the platforms have taken enough steps to ensure the safety and privacy of all
minors on their services. They want to be sure that Facebook and Instagram are
doing everything they can to protect young users.
This investigation follows a report Meta submitted last September about
the risks their platforms pose. The committee also considered previous requests
for information from Meta before deciding to launch this deeper inquiry.
An EU official confirmed that there's no set deadline for completing
this investigation. They stressed that the timeline will depend on how
cooperative Meta is. They stated that they don't have any reason to believe
Meta wouldn't cooperate fully. The official emphasized that protecting children
is a top priority, and the investigation is just the first step in addressing
these concerns.
