The European Commission has accused Facebook, Instagram and TikTok of breaching the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) — a move that could see the social media giants hit with massive fines running into billions.
In its preliminary findings released on Friday, the Commission said the platforms — owned by Meta and ByteDance — failed to give researchers proper access to key data, as required by EU law. This data is meant to help scientists study the effects of harmful content, such as material that promotes violence against children.
The EU further alleged that Meta’s platforms lack simple tools for users to report illegal content or appeal moderation decisions — a direct violation of DSA transparency and accountability standards.
Should Brussels conclude that these companies have indeed broken the law, they could face fines up to 6 per cent of their global annual revenue — a potentially crushing blow for Meta and TikTok.
“Our
democracies depend on trust. That means platforms must empower users, respect their rights and open their systems to scrutiny,”
— said European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, emphasising the EU’s commitment to holding digital platforms accountable.
The Commission’s assessments form part of an ongoing probe launched in 2024. Meta, in particular, is also under investigation for allegedly failing to protect minors from addictive algorithms and other harmful online practices.
Officials in Brussels have reportedly grown frustrated with Meta’s lack of cooperation, suggesting that these latest findings could serve as leverage in the EU’s stalled discussions with the tech giant.
The timing is politically charged — coming amid rising tension between the EU and the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has often labelled European tech laws as “anti-competitive.”
Meanwhile, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been seen aligning more closely with Trump’s political camp, further intensifying the transatlantic standoff over digital regulation.
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