EU Catches Meta Failing to Protect Children Under 13 Online
The European Union has declared that Meta is failing to protect children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram, warning the American tech giant of a potentially massive financial penalty.
EU investigators found that children under the minimum age requirement could easily bypass restrictions simply by entering a false date of birth during sign-up. Regulators concluded that Meta had “no effective controls” in place to prevent or detect this. The findings confirm that Meta is failing to protect children under 13, in direct violation of the company’s own terms and conditions, which set 13 as the minimum access age.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen put it bluntly: terms and conditions must translate into real protective action, not just written statements.
What Meta Could Face
If the EU’s preliminary findings are confirmed, Meta could be fined up to six percent of its total global annual turnover a figure that would run into billions of dollars. The probe launched in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s sweeping online content law. Investigators also flagged that Meta’s tool for reporting underage users on both platforms was clunky and hard to navigate, requiring up to seven clicks just to reach the reporting form.
Meta pushed back, insisting it has measures in place to detect and remove underage accounts. The company said it would continue engaging with EU regulators.
The EU has been tightening its grip on Big Tech’s handling of minors. In February, it warned TikTok to overhaul its addictive design or face heavy fines. Brussels data also estimates that 10 to 12 percent of children under 13 across the EU are already active on Meta’s platforms a figure Meta’s own risk assessments reportedly contradict.
Meta can still avoid punishment by offering concrete remedies for the identified breaches.
