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6h ago

EU Opens DSA Probe Into Snapchat Over Child Safety and Illegal Goods

The law lets Brussels fine large platforms up to 6% of global sales for weak protections for minors.

European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium Februrary 26, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The Snapchat app icon on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
US messaging app Snapchat has around 97 million monthly active users in the 27-nation bloc
The EU told the four platforms including Pornhub they need to implement age verification measures to protect children

Overview

  • The European Commission opened the case Thursday under the Digital Services Act and took over a Dutch probe into vape sales to children on Snapchat.
  • Investigators will test Snapchat’s age checks, default privacy for teens, tools to flag illegal content, and policing of posts that point to drugs and age‑restricted items, including concerns about Find Friends recommendations to adults and push alerts left on by default.
  • The Commission suspects the app fails to stop adults from contacting minors for sexual exploitation or criminal recruitment, including cases where adults pose as children.
  • Snap said user safety is a top priority and said it has cooperated with EU officials, including talks to pilot an age‑verification system the Commission is developing with several EU countries.
  • There is no set timeline, but possible outcomes include binding fixes or fines of up to 6% of global revenue, affecting about 97 million Snapchat users in the EU.