Home / Technology / EU Targets Snap Over Weak Age Verification System
EU Targets Snap Over Weak Age Verification System
26 Mar
Summary
- EU regulators are investigating Snap's child protection measures.
- Snapchat's age verification system is accused of being ineffective.
- Snap faces scrutiny for steering younger users to inappropriate experiences.
European Union regulators have initiated a formal investigation into Snap's child protection measures on its social media platform, Snapchat. The investigation, launched on Thursday, centers on accusations that Snap maintains a weak age-verification system, failing to adequately prevent children under 13 from accessing the service.
Officials also contend that Snapchat's algorithm frequently misclassifies users aged 13 to 17 as adults, subsequently steering them toward inappropriate online experiences. This probe, conducted under the Digital Services Act, also scrutinizes Snap's effectiveness in protecting minors from adults posing as children for exploitation. The European Commissioner overseeing digital policy emphasized that the act demands high safety standards for all users.
This action against Snap aligns with a growing global concern over child safety online. Recent legal challenges against other platforms, such as Meta and YouTube, highlight the increasing pressure on social media companies. Governments across Europe are also considering new legislation to limit children's social media engagement, citing potential harm to mental health.
