Irish authorities have launched two probes into Meta regarding its adherence to a European regulation that mandates platforms to provide users with alternatives to algorithm-driven content streams. Coimisiún na Meán, the country’s digital media authority, announced on Tuesday that it is addressing allegations that the tech giant employs deceptive interface designs to hinder access to chronological feeds on Facebook and Instagram.
The Digital Services Act (DSA), implemented in Europe during 2023, obligates major platforms like Meta to supply users with non-profiling-based feed options. In response, the corporation introduced chronological viewing choices for Stories and Reels within the EU. However, Coimisiún na Meán contends that Meta might be failing to make these features readily available and could be deliberately discouraging users from selecting them, a practice referred to as a dark pattern.
“Coimisiún na Meán acknowledges the widespread concerns regarding recommender systems and the potential damage these algorithms may inflict by consistently exposing users, particularly minors and young adults, to harmful material,” the regulator stated. “Our position is unequivocal: it is intolerable for platforms to obstruct individuals from exercising their legal rights or to attempt to manipulate them away from making informed decisions about algorithmic content control.”
Should Meta be determined to have violated the DSA, it faces the possibility of significant financial penalties. The legislation permits fines reaching up to 6 percent of a company’s worldwide turnover.
“We contest any implication that we have violated the DSA,” a Meta representative told Digitio in a statement. “We have implemented extensive modifications to our workflows and infrastructure to fulfill our regulatory duties and will cooperate with Coimisiún na Meán to provide details regarding these efforts.”