Meta Faces EU Enforcement Action Over Inadequate Child Safeguards

The EU's preliminary ruling exposes critical failures in Meta's age verification mechanisms, revealing that millions of children under 13 are accessing Facebook and Instagram despite explicit platform restrictions. With potential fines reaching $12 billion—up to 6% of Meta's annual revenue—this enforcement action marks a significant escalation in regulatory pressure on social media platforms to implement robust child protection measures. The decision sets a precedent for stricter oversight of tech companies' compliance with data protection and minor safeguarding requirements across Europe and globally.