All articles tagged with #digital services act
Brussels says Meta isn’t doing enough to block under-13s on Instagram and Facebook and is pushing for stronger design changes and a new EU-wide age-verification app; under the Digital Services Act, Meta could face fines up to 6% of global revenue if found in breach, and the Commission is seeking remedies alongside ongoing reviews of Meta’s design and risk assessments.
The European Union unveiled a centralized online age-verification app that acts like a digital ID to confirm users’ ages without sharing birthdates or other sensitive data with every site or app. Users upload an ID to verify age (e.g., 16 or 18) and platforms can check eligibility through the app, while keeping personal details private. The system is designed to meet high privacy standards, and EU states can tailor adoption to national laws; under the Digital Services Act, platforms must show they have effective alternative age-verification methods or face sanctions. While officials say the solution will empower guardians and reduce exposure to harmful content, privacy advocates warn about practical and data-collection concerns. The app is technically ready and will be available to EU citizens soon.
Greece plans to ban social media use for anyone under 15 starting in 2027, requiring platforms to verify ages and face penalties under the EU Digital Services Act; parents would use a state-backed 'Kids Wallet' app to block access, a move backed by adults and aiming to spur EU-wide action.
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Shein to assess potential Digital Services Act breaches, including the sale of childlike sex dolls, the platform’s addictive design, and the transparency of its recommender systems. The EC notes possible enforcement steps and penalties up to 6% of global sales, while Shein says it is strengthening compliance and protections for younger users and has cooperated with authorities amid prior France-related inquiries.
The European Commission launched a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act into Shein, examining whether the Chinese online marketplace allowed sale of illegal items such as child-like sex dolls, weapons, unsafe toys and cosmetics, and whether it failed to assess and mitigate risks. The probe also scrutinizes Shein’s platform design and recommender system for potential harms, while Ireland’s regulator seeks information on protections for minors. Shein says it is cooperating and has implemented age checks and other safety measures; violations could carry penalties up to 6% of global revenue.
The European Commission has told TikTok to change features it deems contribute to addictive usage and could fine the platform up to 6% of its global turnover (potentially tens of billions) if it fails to comply. The regulator criticized how TikTok assessed risks to wellbeing, especially for children, and suggested remedies such as screen-time breaks, algorithm changes, and disabling infinite scroll. TikTok disputes the findings and will respond, as regulators press for “responsible design” across platforms.
Brussels opens a new EU probe into Elon Musk’s X to assess whether the company properly evaluated and mitigated risks from the Grok AI, including manipulated sexually explicit images that could amount to child sexual abuse material, while also expanding a 2023 Digital Services Act review of X’s Grok-based algorithm; the inquiry could prompt interim measures and follows X’s €120 million fine for transparency lapses under the DSA.
The EU opened a formal Digital Services Act probe into Elon Musk’s xAI over Grok, assessing whether it failed to curb non-consensual deepfakes of women and children and other harmful content; if breaches are found, the company could face fines up to 6% of global turnover, and Grok usage has been restricted to paying subscribers as regulators scrutinize safeguards.
A Center for Countering Digital Hate study estimates Grok, the image-generating AI on X, produced about 3 million sexualized images in 11 days, including 23,000 involving children, with 65% of sampled posts sexualized and 0.5% depicting minors. EU regulators are weighing actions under the Digital Services Act and AI regulations, while X has faced fines and is restricting Grok’s image-generation features.
Brussels is re-opening the case for an independent digital regulator outside EU institutions to enforce the bloc’s tech rulebooks (DSA and AI Act), arguing it would unify enforcement and resist U.S. pressure. But it faces strong political headwinds from several member states and practical hurdles, highlighted by the Grok scandal and the current patchwork of national regulators governing EU digital rules.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed Warszawa’s bill to implement the EU’s Digital Services Act, delaying Brussels’ flagship online-content rules and reviving a long-running clash over the rule of law. The move could expose Poland to multimillion-euro fines (reports mention up to about €9.5 million) and comes as Brussels has already opened infringement proceedings for failing to designate a national watchdog to enforce the DSA. A new version of the bill might be ready within two months, but experts say that outcome is unlikely amid the ongoing political dispute.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Elon Musk’s X for enabling Grok’s deepfake tool to digitally undress women and children, calling it unacceptable. Regulators across Europe are investigating, the EC has ordered X to preserve internal documents, and X has limited Grok to paid subscribers. The case tests the EU’s willingness to rein in Big Tech after a €120 million DSA fine and signals stronger enforcement against platform abuses.
The Trump administration has imposed visa bans on European officials and organizations involved in enforcing the EU's Digital Services Act, citing concerns over extraterritorial censorship, which has sparked diplomatic tensions and accusations of repression and threats to European digital sovereignty.
The EU has accused Apple of failing to adequately protect users from scams and safeguarding children, prompting a strong response from Apple that claims EU laws and enforcement are hypocritical and hinder its ability to protect users, amid ongoing regulatory conflicts over digital market practices.
Facebook and Instagram are allegedly violating the EU's Digital Services Act by using deceptive interface designs to hinder illegal content reporting and restricting researcher access to data, potentially facing significant fines.