The European Commission has initiated formal investigations into Snapchat's compliance with child safety requirements mandated by the Digital Services Act (DSA). Announced on 26 March, the probe will evaluate whether Snapchat's policies and practices sufficiently protect minors online, including privacy and security safeguards, according to statements from Brussels officials reported by Ground News and the EU Digital Strategy.
In a related enforcement action, the Commission has preliminarily found that adult content platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos have violated the DSA by failing to prevent minors from accessing explicit material. This finding, also announced on 26 March, may lead to further regulatory measures to ensure stronger age verification and content controls, as detailed by the EU Digital Strategy.
These developments follow recent U.S. legal rulings intensifying scrutiny of major tech companies. On 25 March, a jury ordered Meta and Google to pay $6 million to a woman who claimed their platforms contributed to her social media addiction, a verdict covered by NPR. This builds on a 24 March New Mexico jury decision that found Meta violated state law by harming children's mental health, highlighting increasing legal challenges faced by social media firms in the U.S. (NPR).
Key developments this week underscore growing regulatory and judicial focus on protecting minors from online harms, both in Europe and the United States. The EU's Digital Services Act enforcement actions signal a stricter approach to platform accountability, while U.S. court decisions may influence future tech industry practices and policies.
What to watch next: The outcomes of the European Commission's investigations could set important precedents for child safety enforcement under the DSA, potentially prompting wider platform reforms. Meanwhile, ongoing U.S. litigation and regulatory reviews may further shape the responsibilities and liabilities of social media companies regarding user well-being and addiction risks.
