Meta found to breach EU laws over Instagram and Facebook design features

The European Commission said Meta has breached the EU’s Digital Services Act over design features on Instagram and Facebook that can encourage excessive use. Regulators said the company did not adequately assess risks to users, including minors and vulnerable adults. The Commission pointed to features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and recommendation systems that keep refreshing content. It said Meta should do more to reduce these risks, including potentially turning off some features by default and adding screentime breaks. Meta said it disagrees with the preliminary findings and argued that it has already taken steps to protect teenagers. The company said it will continue to work with the Commission as the process moves forward, and it could face a fine of up to 6% of annual global turnover if the findings are confirmed.