Snapchat Faces Investigation Over โขPotential DSA Violations, Allegedโ Sale of Illegal Products โto Minors
Brussels – โคSnapchat โคis under investigation by European regulators โขfollowing concerns raised โคby theโฃ Association forโ Computing Machinery โข(ACM) โขregarding the potential sale of illegal products, including vapes, to minors on the platform. Theโข investigation centers on possible violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), landmarkโฃ legislation โdesigned to create a safer digital space for users.The ACMโ flagged “enough indications”โค of potential DSA breaches to prompt โขtheโข inquiry,highlighting ongoing โvulnerabilities โขin online safety measures for young people. The DSA places significant obligation โฃon large online platforms to โขprotectโข users,notably minors,from harmful and illegal content. Failureโข toโฃ comply can result in โample fines – up to 6%โค of a company’s global annual revenue. โ
Snapโข Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, acknowledged the investigationโค and stated its commitment toโฃ addressing the concerns. A Snap spokesperson โaffirmed the company has โฃ”invested great resources to stop the authors to abuse our โplatform andโ to educateโค Snapchat users,”โ and continues to refine its “proactive detection technology.” The company also maintains it does not permit advertisementsโค promoting vapes and activelyโ attempts to block โsearches for illegal content.
despite these efforts,โ Snap Inc.conceded that eliminatingโ all online and real-world โthreats is impossible. The company is cooperating with theโ European Commission throughout the investigation but has not provided โa timeline for its completion or offered further detailsโข regardingโ the specific allegations.