Meta Faces Potential EU Fine for Failing to Block Underage Users on Facebook and Instagram
The European Union has accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing its platforms, which violates the EU's Digital Services Act. The European Commission's investigation revealed that Meta does not have effective measures to verify the age of users, allowing minors to enter false birth dates to create accounts. Additionally, the process for reporting underage users is criticized for being cumbersome, requiring multiple steps with inadequate follow-up. Meta's policies state that their services are not intended for users under 13, yet the EU's preliminary findings suggest insufficient action is being taken to enforce this rule. Meta has the opportunity to respond to these findings before a final decision is made, which could result in fines up to 6% of the company's global revenue. 
