The European Commission has officially launched an investigation into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to assess potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) related to the protection of minors.

The Commission’s primary concerns revolve around the possibility that Facebook and Instagram, along with their algorithms, could promote addictive behaviors and facilitate what is known as the ‘rabbit-hole effect’ among children. Additionally, there are doubts about Meta’s methods for verifying users’ ages.

Key points of the investigation include:

– Meta’s compliance with DSA obligations regarding risk assessment and mitigation related to design elements that may exploit minors’ vulnerabilities.
– The effectiveness of age-verification tools in preventing minors from accessing inappropriate content.
– Ensuring privacy, safety, and security for minors through appropriate measures in recommender systems.

Failure in these areas could lead to violations of specific DSA articles. However, it is important to note that the initiation of formal proceedings does not indicate a predetermined outcome and does not eliminate the possibility of further actions by the Commission on other potential violations under the DSA.

The Commission will conduct a thorough investigation promptly by gathering evidence through various means such as requests for information, interviews, or inspections. As part of these formal proceedings, the Commission has the authority to enforce actions like interim measures and non-compliance decisions. Meta also has the option to propose commitments to address any concerns raised during this process.

Stay tuned for updates on this matter as more information becomes available.Phones Canada will continue to follow this story closely and provide updates as they unfold.