EU Commission Cites Meta For Instagram Age Verification Failures
The European Commission issued a preliminary finding accusing Meta of failing to mitigate risks for users under 13 on Facebook and Instagram. This follows a preliminary investigation launched in 2024 into how minors access the platforms. This development marks a new confrontation between the European Union and Meta. Green Party MEP Alexandra Gese provided technical context on the existing control loopholes. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen previously alleged that platforms possess precise knowledge of users' ages, including month and year. Despite these claims, the Commission notes that children can easily provide false ages without sufficient verification. Users can currently bypass restrictions by entering false birth dates. The Commission noted that reporting a violation requires up to seven clicks and is not automatically completed with user information.
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Sources · 7 independent
“the commission accuses Metta of failing to diligently identify, assess and mitigate the risks of those under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram.”
“registration or to prevent the minor from using Facebook or Instagram services.”
“A Comissão Europeia ameaçou esta manhã... multar gigante tecnológica meta... por permitir na prática que menores de 13 anos utilizem as redes sociais”
“EU Escalates Probe Into Meta for Failing to Stop Kids Signing Up”
“EU kritisiert Meta wegen unzureichendem Schutz von Kindern: Die Europäische Kommission hat vorläufig festgestellt, dass Meta mit seinen Plattformen Instagram und Facebook gegen das Gesetz über...”
“prevent minors under the age of 13 from using Instagram and Facebook. was addictive in its design and therefore harmful for children.”
“they're saying that under the Digital Services Act, every major platform of which obviously Facebook and Instagram would be considered a major platform with very large numbers of users. They're obliged to assess the risk and mitigate”
“EU: Meta ei estä alle 13-vuotiaita käyttämästä Facebookia ja Instagramia. Jos EU:n alustavat havainnot vahvistetaan, Metalle on luvassa mittavia sakkoja.”
“l'esegutivo ha infatti accertato in via per eliminare che i due colossi social di metà hanno violato la legge sui servizi digitali per non aver identificato, valutato e mitigato con la dovuta di legge, rischi legati all'accesso e servizi da parte di minori di età inferiore ai 13 anni.”
“controllo dell'età di Facebook e Instagram per la Commissione europea meta viola In caso di conferma delle violazioni, le sanzioni possono arrivare al 6% del fatturato annuo della società.”
“Commissie beschuldigt het Amerikaanse bedrijf META ervan dat ze de digitale red”
“La Commissione europea appunto il dito contro Instagram e Facebook l'esecutivo ha infatti accertato in via per eliminare che i due colossi social di mette hanno violato la legge sui servizi digitali”
“moins de 13 ans accéder à ses réseaux sociaux, Instagram et Facebook. ainsi à de multiples risques. Le groupe américain aura la possibilité de se défendre”
“Digitalkommissarin Henna Wilkunnen sagte, bei der Erstellung eines Kontos können Nutzende einfach ein falsches Geburtsdatum angeben und sich so älter machen. Das verstoße gegen das Gesetz über digitale Dienste.”
“fino a un massimo del 6% del fatturato anno dei due social.”
“Instagram doet te weinig om kinderen onder de 13 weg te houden. En daarom wil de Europese Commissie dat het concern best doet om jonge kinderen te weeren.”
“De schatting heeft 10% van de kinderen onder de 13 een account op instaal Facebook, terwijl dat woogste eigen regels van meta niet mag.”
“Commissie beschuldigt het Amerikaanse bedrijf META ervan dat ze de digitale red die het toch te gebruiken dat zij Eurokomissaris Wilkunen daar net op een persconferentie.”
“In de EU zijn er 12 procent van kinderen die onder 13 jaar oud zijn, die gebruiken Instagram en Facebook. Meta krijgt nu de kans om zich te verdedigen of om maatregelen te nemen. Anders is het een boete die kan oplopen tot miljarden euro's.”
“the miner from using Facebook or Instagram services. the commission said met”
“Secondo Bruxelles, le misure per far rispettare il limite minimo di accesso e social, fissato da meta a 13 anni, non impediscono adeguatamente ai minori di accedere a loro”
“Die EU-Kommission wirft Facebook und Instagram vor, Kinder und Jugendliche nicht ausreichend vor den Gefahren ihrer Angebote zu schützen.”
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