The European Union has formally accused Meta Platforms of failing to prevent underage users from accessing Facebook and Instagram, in violation of the bloc's stringent digital regulations designed to protect minors online. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, stated on Wednesday that Meta lacks effective mechanisms to stop children younger than 13 from signing up for accounts and does not adequately identify or remove underage users after they have registered.
Meta's Minimum Age Policy
Meta's own terms and conditions set the minimum age for opening an account on Facebook or Instagram at 13. However, the Commission found that the company is not enforcing this rule effectively. Beyond access, the Commission highlighted that Meta is failing to properly assess the risks of exposing children under 13 to age-inappropriate content and experiences on its platforms.
Digital Services Act Enforcement
Brussels is targeting Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive set of rules requiring large tech companies operating in the 27-nation bloc to enhance online safety and user protection. Meta now has an opportunity to respond to the preliminary findings before the Commission issues a final decision. If violations are confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its worldwide annual revenue.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, stated that the investigation, launched in 2024, revealed that Instagram and Facebook are doing very little to prevent children from accessing their services despite their own terms indicating they are not intended for minors under 13. She emphasized that the DSA requires platforms to enforce their own rules, meaning terms and conditions must translate into concrete actions to protect users, including children.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations.
