Meta faces EU scrutiny over child safety as Turkey's fines lag
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The European Commission on April 29, 2026 issued preliminary findings that Meta fails to block under-13 users from Instagram and Facebook. Meta could face fines up to 6% of global annual revenue under the Digital Services Act if violations are confirmed. Turkey enacted a 15-year age limit for social media in May 2026, but penalties imposed there remain far smaller than US and EU actions.
Key Facts
- Meta reached a settlement of up to $16.68 billion in a lawsuit brought by 29 US states over claims it designed platforms to addict children and teens.
- The European Commission announced preliminary findings on April 29, 2026 that Meta fails to effectively prevent under-13 users from accessing Instagram and Facebook.
- Turkey enacted a 15-year age limit for social media use in May 2026.
- The EU previously fined TikTok 530 million euros for transferring user data to China and X 120 million euros for DSA violations.
- Turkey's Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) fined Meta in December 2024 for failing to protect children.
US Settlement
Meta reached a settlement of up to $16.68 billion in a lawsuit brought by 29 US states over claims it designed platforms to addict children and teens. The three-year legal process ended with Meta committing to daily usage limits, nighttime access restrictions, and strengthened age verification.
EU Investigation
The European Commission opened a formal investigation in May 2024 and issued preliminary findings on April 29, 2026 that Meta fails to effectively block under-13 users from Instagram and Facebook. The Commission found that the minimum age of 13 in platform terms is not effectively enforced, as users can easily misstate their age and reporting underage accounts is complicated. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at the European AI and Children Summit in Copenhagen that the EU will take more aggressive steps against TikTok's addictive interface elements and Meta's weak age verification. If violations are confirmed, Meta could face fines up to 6% of its global annual revenue under the Digital Services Act. The EU previously fined TikTok 530 million euros for transferring user data to China and X 120 million euros for DSA violations.
Turkey's Enforcement
Turkey enacted a 15-year age limit for social media use in May 2026. Turkey's Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) fined Meta in December 2024 for failing to protect children. Penalties imposed in Turkey remain far smaller than US and EU actions, and Meta's advertising revenue in Turkey is nearly unaffected by the fines.
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Meta faces EU scrutiny over child safety as Turkey's fines lag
