The European Commission has launched an investigation into Meta, alleging that the US tech giant employs harmful and addictive design features on its Instagram and Facebook platforms. Preliminary findings released on Friday, July 10, indicate that elements such as infinite scrolling and attention-capture mechanisms are in violation of the Digital Services Act 2022. This legislation was established to protect EU citizens from illegal content, scams, and various internet-related harms.
According to the Commission, Mark Zuckerberg’s conglomerate has failed to adequately assess the risks of addiction associated with these design choices. Furthermore, the investigation suggests a lack of effective mitigation measures. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated that there is no effective screen-time measuring tool, no effective awareness-raising measures, and no effective parental control available on these platforms.
The Commission argues that personalised recommendations and autoplay features fuel the user’s urge to keep scrolling, leading to compulsive use, sleep deprivation, and heightened mental health risks. While Meta has proposed certain tools like time-management settings, officials claim these are widely ineffective and require a level of technical expertise that many parents do not possess.
Should the preliminary findings hold throughout the investigation and Meta fails to successfully contest them, the company could face significant financial penalties. Under the Digital Services Act, fines can reach up to six percent of a company’s global annual turnover. Based on Meta’s 2025 revenue of €176 billion, a potential fine could amount to as much as €11 billion.
The European Union has demonstrated a firm stance against the tech giant in recent years. In April 2025, the EU imposed fines totaling €200 million for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act, following a €797 million fine in 2024 related to malpractice concerning Facebook Marketplace advertisements. Meta currently maintains a user base of 270 million people within the EU, representing well over half of the continent’s population.
