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Commission opens formal proceedings against Meta under the Digital Services Act related to the protection of minors on Facebook and Instagram

The Commission has opened formal proceedings to assess whether Meta, the provider of Facebook and Instagram, may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to the protection of minors.

Commission opens formal proceedings against Meta under the Digital Services Act related to the protection of minors on Facebook and Instagram

The Commission is concerned that the systems of both Facebook and Instagram, including their algorithms, may stimulate behavioural addictions in children, as well as create so-called 'rabbit-hole effects'. In addition, the Commission is also concerned about age-assurance and verification methods put in place by Meta.

The opening of proceedings is based on a preliminary analysis of the risk assessment report sent by Meta in September 2023, Meta's replies to the Commission's formal requests for information (on the protection of minors and the methodology of the risk assessment), publicly available reports as well as the Commission's own analysis.

Read the full press release and learn more about the DSA.