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4w ago

EU Orders Meta to Change Facebook and Instagram Interfaces

Brussels says specific design features drive compulsive use and warns Meta it faces fines up to 6% of global turnover if it does not propose effective fixes.

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L'Union européenne a ordonné vendredi à Meta de modifier les interfaces de Facebook et Instagram qu'elle juge trop "addictives"
L'UE n'est pas satisfaite des contrôles parentaux intégrés à Facebook et Instagram, qui seraient trop compliqués à gérer, ni des réglages pour limiter le temps d'écran des ados
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Overview

  • The European Commission issued preliminary injunctions on Friday directing Meta to alter features it calls 'addictive' on Facebook and Instagram and gave the company a chance to propose remedies.
  • Brussels singled out infinite scroll, highly personalized recommendations and autoplay videos as design mechanics that prolong use and raise risks for minors and vulnerable adults.
  • The Commission rejected Meta's argument that teen accounts and parental controls are sufficient, saying those tools are too hard to use or easy to bypass.
  • Meta disputes the preliminary findings and can respond in writing, but the DSA allows fines up to 6% of global annual turnover if Brussels remains unsatisfied.
  • The action builds on earlier EU moves that include similar requests to other platforms and follows a U.S. jury verdict in March that found platforms liable for addictive harms, with experts due to advise EU leaders on wider measures next week.