The European Commission has initiated an inquiry into the owners of Facebook and Instagram due to concerns about their role in promoting addictive behavior and causing mental health issues among children.
An EU official mentioned that Meta might have violated the Digital Services Act (DSA), a crucial law passed in the EU last summer to hold digital companies accountable for various online harms.
Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the internal market, stated, “Today we are commencing formal proceedings against Meta. We doubt their full compliance with the DSA, particularly in reducing risks to the physical and mental health of young people using Facebook and Instagram in Europe.”
The investigation will focus on the potentially addictive nature of the platforms, known as the “rabbit hole effect,” where algorithms expose young users to harmful content like unrealistic body images. It will also assess the efficacy of Meta’s age verification tools and the protection of minors’ privacy.
In response, a Meta spokesperson mentioned their efforts to provide a safe online experience for young users over the past decade, developing multiple tools and policies for protection. They acknowledged the industry-wide challenge and expressed willingness to share details of their efforts with the European Commission.
The commission had previously raised concerns about Meta’s handling of political content and potential Russian disinformation ahead of the EU general elections in June, leading to this further investigation under the DSA.
Under the DSA, platforms are required to safeguard the privacy and safety of children. Following a preliminary probe, EU authorities are worried that Facebook and Instagram might exploit children’s vulnerability and lead to addictive behavior.
The commission is also questioning the effectiveness of the platforms’ age verification tools, as users must be at least 13 years old to create an account on Facebook or Instagram.
Regarding investigational measures, the commission mentioned concerns about possible circumvention of regulations and Meta’s assessment of the tools’ effectiveness. They aim to scrutinize Meta’s current practices further.
Additionally, two inquiries have been launched against TikTok by the commission, leading to the platform voluntarily suspending services in France and Spain. This action followed similar DSA lawsuits against X and AliExpress.
After newsletter promotion
The DSA will be enforced in February for platforms operating in Europe, aiming to hold powerful online platforms accountable for online safety. Compliance with the DSA is crucial, and potential fines could be imposed if Meta fails to meet the commission’s expectations.
Source: www.theguardian.com
