The European Commission has launched an investigation into Snapchat, alleging the platform may expose minors to grooming and criminal recruitment, potentially violating EU digital safety laws.
Snapchat, a social media app where users share ephemeral photos and videos, has approximately 94.5 million European users. The Commission suspects that adults may pose as minors to contact children for illegal activities or sexual exploitation.
Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, stated that Snapchat appears to have failed to meet the high safety standards required by the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The investigation will examine age verification, grooming, account settings, content moderation, and reporting mechanisms. It could lead to enforcement actions if violations are found.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets previously investigated Snapchat’s role in the sale of vape products to minors, and that probe will be included in the broader review.
The Commission also claims that Snapchat uses 'dark patterns'-deceptive design techniques-to influence user behavior. It argues that self-disclosure of age is insufficient to protect minors.
Teen accounts on Snapchat include privacy features like default private settings and limited location sharing, but the Commission says these do not provide adequate protection.