The European Commission has accused Meta of failing to provide users with clear and accessible ways to report illegal content on Facebook and Instagram, marking a significant step in its ongoing investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
In preliminary findings released on Friday, the Commission stated that users who wish to report illegal posts often find no meaningful assistance or follow-up responses from Meta. This shortcoming, regulators say, undermines the DSA’s goal of making online environments safer and more accountable.
Meta now has time to formally respond to the findings. While there is no fixed legal deadline, the company faces the potential risk of severe financial penalties — up to 6% of its global annual turnover — if found in violation.
The investigation began after numerous complaints were lodged with Ireland’s online content regulator, where Meta’s EU headquarters are located. The Commission has been working closely with Irish authorities to assess whether Meta’s reporting systems comply with the bloc’s digital regulations.
The DSA, which came into effect in 2024, requires “very large online platforms” — those with more than 45 million monthly users — to implement effective systems for detecting, removing, and reporting illegal material.
In addition to content reporting, the Commission is also examining Meta’s broader compliance, including its handling of deceptive advertising and political content. Regulators aim to ensure that major platforms operate transparently and safeguard users from systemic online risks.
Meanwhile, TikTok and Meta are also under scrutiny for allegedly failing to provide accredited researchers with access to public data. Under the DSA, researchers must be granted access to monitor how harmful or misleading content spreads online.
The Commission emphasized that such access is crucial for studying the systemic risks posed to society by online platforms, including the amplification of disinformation and harmful content.
Meta’s investigation, which began in April 2024, remains ongoing. Similarly, TikTok’s case — launched in February 2023 — is focused on advertising transparency and the protection of minors.
So far, the European Commission has opened 14 separate proceedings into possible breaches of the DSA, targeting major platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, AliExpress, and Temu. While several have reached the stage of preliminary findings, none have yet been concluded.
The latest move underscores the EU’s growing determination to enforce its digital safety laws and hold global tech giants accountable for the online experiences of millions of European users.
If Meta fails to address the Commission’s concerns adequately, it could face one of the largest penalties ever imposed under the DSA — a stark warning to the rest of the tech industry about the cost of non-compliance.