Meta faces EU DSA breach claim over under-13 access

The European Commission said on Wednesday that Meta Platforms Inc. has preliminarily breached European Union law by failing to stop children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram.

Officials said the initial view follows a nearly two-year investigation and centers on whether Meta has effective steps in place to enforce its own minimum age rules on the two platforms.

European Commission cites Digital Services Act duties

The Commission’s preliminary assessment said Meta’s approach falls short of requirements under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Under the DSA, platforms must identify and reduce risks linked to underage users, according to the Commission.

Officials said the investigation found that children under 13 were able to open accounts by entering false birthdates, without sufficient verification to prevent that from happening.

Account checks and reporting tools questioned

The Commission also raised concerns about tools intended to report underage use. Officials said those reporting features were ineffective and hard to use, limiting their ability to address accounts that may belong to children below the stated minimum age.

The preliminary finding does not conclude the case. The Commission said Meta will be able to examine the assessment and respond with a defense.

Potential penalty tied to global turnover

If the preliminary conclusions are confirmed, Meta could face a financial penalty of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, the Commission said.

Meta reported revenues of $201 billion for 2025, according to the figures cited in the announcement.

Broader policy push on minors and social media

The Commission’s move comes as European governments weigh tighter rules for minors online. Officials noted that countries including Spain and France are considering stricter age restrictions or bans on social media for minors.

It remains unclear how the Commission will assess any changes Meta may propose in response to the preliminary findings, and whether those steps would be considered sufficient under the DSA.