The European Commission is preparing to turn up the heat on Meta Platforms, with preliminary findings expected to accuse the company of deploying deceptive design features on Facebook and Instagram that specifically target and manipulate children.
The move escalates an investigation that first opened in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act, Europe’s sweeping regulatory framework designed to rein in harmful practices across the tech industry. If Meta is found in violation, the company faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global turnover.
What the Commission is actually alleging
The preliminary findings are expected on June 23, 2026. They would represent the Commission’s formal articulation of what it believes Meta is doing wrong, and set the stage for potential penalties or mandated changes to the platforms.
In April 2026, the Commission concluded that Meta’s age-verification measures were inadequate, specifically failing to enforce the company’s own policy that prohibits users under the age of 13 from accessing its services.
