Meta Threatened With Major EU Fine For Failing To Block Underage Users From Facebook And Instagram
The European Union has threatened Meta with significant fines for failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram. A probe revealed that the platforms did not enforce age restrictions effectively, allowing underage users to sign up by entering false birth dates. If confirmed, Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its annual revenue under the Digital Services Act.
- ▪The European Commission found that Facebook and Instagram violated the Digital Services Act by not preventing underage users from signing up.
- ▪Underage users can easily enter false birth dates, and Meta has not implemented effective controls to verify this information.
- ▪The Commission criticized the reporting process for underage users, stating it is cumbersome and lacks proper follow-up.
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BreakingBusinessMeta Threatened With Major EU Fine For Failing To Block Underage Users From Facebook And InstagramBySiladitya Ray,Forbes Staff. Siladitya Ray is a New Delhi-based Forbes news team reporter.Follow AuthorApr 29, 2026, 05:13am EDTApr 29, 2026, 05:59am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineThe European Union on Wednesday said Meta has failed to prevent children under 13 from accessing its social media platforms—Facebook and Instagram—in violation of the bloc’s online safety rules, citing preliminary findings from its probe, which could lead to fines of up to 6% of the company’s annual global revenue.The European Commission's probe found that both Instagram and Facebook failed to prevent…
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