Global regulatory and legal scrutiny of Meta

Meta is facing intensifying legal and regulatory scrutiny regarding its platform operations and design. In Brazil, the company has been involved in high-profile disputes with the judiciary, including a court order to block WhatsApp and the arrest of its South America vice president.

Simultaneously, international regulatory pressure is mounting. European Union officials are advocating for a ‘safety-by-design’ approach to curb harmful features and are proposing stricter age restrictions, with potential fines reaching 6% of revenue. Similar debates regarding minor protection are occurring in Australia, Canada, Spain, and Germany.

In the United States, Meta is facing a major lawsuit in California federal court. State attorneys general allege the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of minors through features like infinite scroll, predictive algorithms, and push notifications. The legal challenge further accuses Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by tracking users under the age of 13 without parental consent.