EU Says Meta Violated Digital Services Act With Addictive Features on Instagram and Facebook

The European Commission determined that Meta broke the bloc's Digital Services Act because of design elements on its Instagram and Facebook platforms that promote addiction.

The EU identifies violations tied to user well-being risks. Regulators found the company failed to properly assess how certain product choices endangered the physical health of users, reportedly including minors and vulnerable adults, according to a preliminary assessment released Friday.

The features in question are infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalized recommendation systems.

Potential fines reach 6% of Meta's annual turnover. If the conclusions are upheld, the social media owner could face penalties as high as 6 percent of its yearly global revenue.

Meta disputes the conclusions and highlights teen protections. "We disagree with these preliminary findings, which don't accurately take into account the significant steps we've taken to protect teens," a Meta spokesperson said. The company introduced Teen Accounts that "automatically protect teens and put parents in control" by letting guardians restrict nighttime access and limit daily use to 15 minutes.

Meta added that it "share[s] the European Commission's commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them."

The case remains at the preliminary stage with further process ahead. The European Commission opened its probe into Meta's compliance with the Digital Services Act months earlier.