Meta child safety measures must also apply in Europe: MEP Nina Carberry

After a landmark trial in the US ended with Meta paying $17 billion in penalty, and introducing stronger child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram, MEP Nina Carberry has called on Meta to extend the new child-safety measures to Ireland and across the European Union as well.

Yesterday, in a major settlement with US states, the Facebook and Instagram owner agreed to pay the penalty over claims relating to the addictive impact of its platforms on children. As part of the agreement, Meta will introduce new measures in the US, including daily time limits for teenagers, restrictions on night-time use, and stronger parental controls.

The Midlands North-West MEP, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Children's Rights, said the same safeguards should apply to children regardless of where they live.

“Meta, as the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay up to the equivalent of €15 billion to settle this major US legal case, over claims that its platforms were designed to addict children.

“The new protections - including daily time limits and stronger parental controls - are very welcome. But so far, Meta has only agreed to introduce them in America.

“These safeguards cannot stop at the US border. Children and families here deserve the same protection. And so, I’ll be pushing the European Commission to ensure these measures are also introduced in Ireland and across Europe,” Carberry concluded.