The EU regulators announced on Thursday that Meta Platforms’ social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, will undergo investigation for potential violations of the EU online content rules about child safety, potentially resulting in significant fines. The scrutiny follows the EU’s implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) last year, which places greater responsibility on tech companies to address illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
欧盟监管机构周四宣布，将对Meta Platforms旗下的社交媒体平台Facebook和Instagram进行调查，调查其可能违反了关于儿童安全的欧盟在线内容规则，这可能导致巨额罚款。此次审查是继去年欧盟实施《数字服务法案》（DSA）之后进行的，该法案要求科技公司对其平台上的非法和有害内容承担更大的责任。

The European Commission has expressed concerns that Facebook and Instagram have not adequately addressed risks to children, prompting an in-depth investigation. Issues highlighted include the potential for the platforms’ systems and algorithms to promote behavioural addictions among children and facilitate access to inappropriate content, leading to what the Commission refers to as ‘rabbit-hole effects’. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding Meta’s age assurance and verification methods.
欧盟委员会对Facebook和Instagram未能充分解决对儿童的风险表示担忧，促使展开深入调查。突出的问题包括这些平台的系统和算法可能会促进儿童的行为成瘾，并让他们接触到不适当的内容，导致委员会所称的“兔洞效应”。此外，关于Meta的年龄验证和确认方法也引起了担忧。

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is already under the EU scrutiny over election disinformation, particularly concerning the upcoming European Parliament elections. Violations of the DSA can result in fines of up to 6% of a company’s annual global turnover, indicating the seriousness with which the EU regulators are approaching these issues. Meta’s response to the investigation and any subsequent actions will be closely monitored as the EU seeks to enforce stricter regulations on tech giants to protect online users, especially children, from harm.
前身为Facebook的Meta，已经因选举虚假信息受到欧盟的审查，特别是关于即将到来的欧洲议会选举。违反《数字服务法案》可能会导致最高相当于公司年全球营业额6%的罚款，这表明欧盟监管机构对这些问题的重视。随着欧盟寻求对科技巨头实施更严格的法规，以保护在线用户，尤其是儿童免受伤害，Meta对此次调查的回应以及后续行动将受到密切关注。