Synopsis
Ireland's media regulator on Tuesday said it has opened a probe into Meta over its recommender system that promotes content on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. The investigation will assess if Facebook and Instagram feeds have been "selected and ranked for the user by a system that learns from what they like, what they interact with, or what they spend time on", the statement added.Listen to this article in summarized format
Assembly Elections 2026Election Results 2026 Live Updates: Who's ahead in which stateWest Bengal Election Results 2026 Live UpdatesTN Election Result 2026 Live Updates
The EU member's regulator said it is concerned about so-called "dark patterns" or manipulative and deceptive interfaces that impose system-generated feeds of targeted content based on users' habits.
The practice "could prevent people from exercising their right to choose a recommendations feed that is not based on profiling", the authority, known as Coimisiun na Mean, said in a statement.
Profiling comprises the use of automated systems to generate personalised content or advertisements based on patterns in a user's data or behaviour.
The investigation will assess if Facebook and Instagram feeds have been "selected and ranked for the user by a system that learns from what they like, what they interact with, or what they spend time on", the statement added.
It will also probe whether users can select and modify their preferred recommender system and if this can be done in a direct and easily accessible way, which is a requirement of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
Meta faces a potential fine of up to six percent of turnover if it is found to have breached rules under the DSA.
In a statement sent to AFP, Meta said it has "introduced substantial changes to our processes and systems to meet our regulatory obligations".
It said it "will engage with Coimisiun na Mean to share details of this work".
"We disagree with any suggestion that we have breached the DSA," it added.
Potentially addictive algorithms used by tech giants have drawn increasing scrutiny worldwide, with minimum ages for social networks introduced by several countries.
A United States jury ruled in March that Instagram and YouTube were responsible for the addictive nature of their platforms, as well as mental health issues suffered during adolescence by a youth in California.
Numerous studies in recent years have highlighted the damage caused by social networks to certain young users.
For the Irish regulator, the concerns centre on "the possible inability of users to select and modify, at any time and in a direct and accessible way, a recommendation feed without profiling".
