Why is the EU probing Facebook and Instagram? | Explained

EU investigates Meta's Facebook and Instagram for failing to protect children, potentially facing fines up to 6% of revenue.

The story so far: The European Union has opened fresh investigation into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they are failing to protect children on their platform, a violation that could result in fines of up to 6% of the company’s annual worldwide revenue.

The 27-nation bloc has said it is concerned that the Facebook and Instagram’s recommendation engine could “exploit the weaknesses and inexperience’” of children and stimulate “addictive behavior”. The bloc’s executive arm further said that these systems could reinforce the so-called “rabbit hole” effect that leads users to watch increasingly disturbing content.

As part of the probe, the commission will look into Meta’s use of age verification tools to prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram. And also find out whether the company is complying with the bloc’s Digital Service Act (DSA) and enforcing a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors.

The bloc’s DSA came into effect in February. It stipulates very large online platforms, which have over 45 million users in the EU, to provide an option in their recommender systems that is not based on user profiling and share their data with the Commission and national authorities to assess compliance under the law.

The platforms are also required to take measures to protect minors from content that may impair their physical, mental or moral development. Additionally, platforms must take targeted measures to protect the rights of minors, including age verification and parental control tools that are aimed at helping minors signal abuse or obtain support.

Facebook and Instagram have more than the stipulated number of users, and so are designated as very large platforms, bringing them under the law’s purview.

The EU regulator will now carry out an in-depth investigation as a “matter of priority” and gather evidence by sending additional requests for information, conducting interviews and inspections