Meta found in breach of EU law for failing to keep children off platforms

The tech company Meta has been found to be in breach of EU law for failing to prevent children under 13 from using its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Issuing the preliminary findings of a nearly two-year investigation, the European Commission said on Wednesday that Meta did not have effective measures in place to stop under-13s accessing its services. The US tech company was unable to meet its own terms and conditions that set 13 as the minimum age to access Facebook and Instagram safely, the commission said. Following an initial assessment, Meta was found in breach of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires it to “diligently identify and mitigate the risks” of under-13s using its platforms. The commission said its preliminary findings “do not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation”. Meta will now have the chance to examine the commission’s investigation file and mount a defence. If the finding against the Silicon Valley company is upheld, it could be fined up to 6% of its global annual turnover. Meta reported revenue of $201bn (£148bn) for 2025. The findings come as governments across Europe consider whether to ban social media for children, amid rising concerns from the EU executive over “the tsunami of big tech flooding” people’s homes. Spain wants a social media ban for under-16s to protect children from the “digital wild west” , while French lawmakers have voted for similar restrictions for under-15s. …