The European Union launched a significant inquiry into Facebook parent firm Meta on Thursday for allegedly breaking the rigorous internet content regulation in the region due to potential dangers to children’s safety.

Investigating if the social media giant’s Facebook and Instagram platforms “may stimulate behavioural addictions in children, as well as create so-called ‘rabbit-hole effects,'” is the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, announced in a statement.

The commission also expressed worry about privacy threats associated with Meta’s recommendation algorithms and age verifications on its platforms.

“We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies designed to protect them,” a Meta spokesperson said.

“This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission.”

The commission stated that a preliminary study of a risk assessment report submitted by Meta in September 2023 is the reason behind its decision to launch an inquiry.

“Not convinced [that Meta] has done enough to comply with the DSA obligations to mitigate the risks of negative effects to the physical and mental health of young Europeans on its platforms,” stated Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for internal markets, in a statement.

The European Union declared that it will look into Meta’s kid safety procedures “as a matter of priority.” The bloc has the option to keep obtaining proof through information requests, interviews, and inspections.

According to the commission, the start of a DSA investigation enables the EU to pursue additional enforcement actions, such as noncompliance rulings and interim measures. The commission also mentioned that it can take Meta’s promises to address its issues into consideration.

Since the European Union introduced the groundbreaking Digital Services Act, a regulation designed to combat dangerous information, Meta and other U.S. digital firms have found themselves under more scrutiny from the EU.

Companies who violate the EU’s DSA risk fines of up to 6% of their yearly worldwide revenues. As per its new law, the bloc has not yet fined any tech firms.

The European Union initiated legal action against X, the business that was once known as Twitter, in December 2023 due to alleged neglect in addressing misinformation and manipulation of material.

The commission is also looking into Meta for possible DSA violations pertaining to how it handled misinformation during elections.

The European Parliament elections are coming up, and the bloc expressed worry that Meta hasn’t done enough to prevent disinformation by launching an investigation against the firm in April.

Concerns about kid safety are causing more than just the EU to move against Meta.

The attorney general of New Mexico is suing the corporation in the United States on the grounds that it allowed child trafficking, child sex abuse, and solicitation on Facebook and Instagram.

At the time, a representative for Meta stated that the business used “sophisticated technology” in addition to other preventative measures to eradicate predators.

(Adapted from NBCLosAngeles.com)

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