EU: Facebook and Instagram accused of violating rules

Meta Platforms   ' Facebook and Instagram platforms are accused of violating the European Union's landmark technology rules, and they must do more to prevent children under the age of 13 from using the social networks, European Union regulators  said on Wednesday.

The charges under the Digital Services Act, which requires big tech companies to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms, came after a two-year investigation by the European Commission.

The European Union's technology law enforcement agency said Meta was not doing enough to enforce the restrictions it set on children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram, and that measures taken to identify them and suspend their accounts when they access the services were insufficient.

It added that 10 percent to 12 percent of children under the age of 13 in Europe use Facebook and Instagram.

"Our preliminary results show that Instagram and Facebook are doing little to prevent children under this age from accessing their services," EU technology commissioner Hina Verkonen said in a statement.

"Terms and conditions should not be just written statements, they should be the basis for taking concrete action to protect users, including children," it added.

UNHCR said the platforms should change their risk assessment approach and strengthen measures to prevent minors from accessing their services, detecting them and closing their accounts.

Meta can respond to the charges and take action before the Commission issues a decision, and violations of the Digital Services Act can result in companies being fined up to 6 percent of their total annual global sales.