The European Commission is investigating whether the four American companies provide sufficient safeguards for children on their platforms. There are indications that young people can easily bypass age restrictions, still gamble online, and even buy drugs through social media. The EU wants clarity about the measures the companies claim to have implemented.
The Digital Services Act obliges large platforms to actively remove illegal and harmful content and give users the option to report such content. Internet companies must also be transparent about their algorithms and age verification. Violations can lead to fines of up to six percent of their global turnover.
According to the European Commission, the online world is an essential part of daily life, and minors must be extra protected there—just as in everyday life. The EU emphasizes that digital services are obliged to ensure safe, age-appropriate environments and adequate parental control features.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was recently convicted in the Netherlands by a court for violating the DSA. The company must offer users the choice of a timeline without algorithmic steering. Meta is appealing and argues that such matters should be handled by European institutions.
The conviction came after a complaint from the digital civil rights organization Bits of Freedom. According to the judge, algorithms restrict users’ free choice too much. Meta risks a fine of over one hundred thousand dollars per day as long as the company does not meet the requirements.
The DSA has led to great tensions between Brussels and the United States since its introduction in 2022. American companies claim that the European law affects their business models and goes too far in regulating digital services.
American diplomats have also expressed their concerns. The US ambassador to the EU warned that the law could restrict the freedom of speech of American citizens. According to Washington, no foreign government may limit such fundamental rights.
Meanwhile, the European Commission continues its enforcement. The EU has already imposed billion-euro fines on major tech companies such as Apple, Meta, and Alphabet. Many of these sanctions are still subject to legal procedures, but Brussels insists that the protection of European users, especially minors, takes priority.