EU lawmakers demand Brussels force Meta to 'protect' European children
BRUSSELS: European lawmakers demanded that the European Union executive force Meta to change the “addictive” design of its platforms in Europe, as the giant has promised to do in some US states, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday.
European lawmakers have urged the European Union (EU) executive to compel tech giant Meta to alter the addictive design of its platforms in Europe, according to a letter obtained by AFP. The letter, signed by French EU lawmaker Stephanie Yon-Courtin and 51 other MEPs, was seen by AFP on Thursday.
Meta's CEO has previously pledged to introduce similar safeguards in some US states, following a landmark court settlement where the company agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion and implement new restrictions on teenage users. The 27-nation EU has long advocated for comparable measures, and in July, Meta was instructed to modify its "addictive design" by EU officials.
In the letter, the MEPs emphasized that European children deserve the same level of protection as their American counterparts. They argued that the EU's framework is the most stringent globally and that it would be unacceptable for European minors to be subjected to less robust safeguards.
The lawmakers called on the EU's digital regulator, the European Commission, to finalize its investigation into Meta without delay and impose non-compliance penalties if the company fails to comply. They also suggested that the EU should be prepared to temporarily block access to the platforms if alternative measures prove ineffective and cause serious harm.
The MEPs stressed that the issue is not about censoring a service or banning a social network but about preventing a threat that appears insurmountable. They acknowledged that fines may be circumvented by powerful tech firms, but a judge-ordered shutdown would address the underlying business model.
The lawmakers criticized EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for failing to fulfill her political commitment to safeguarding minors online. They questioned whether child protection remains a priority for von der Leyen. The EU had initiated its probe into Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2024, a content regulation that has been fiercely contested by the US.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- EU lawmakers demand Brussels force Meta to ‘protect’ European children freemalaysiatoday.com
