Ireland fines Instagram 405M euro for failing to protect children’s data

The EU's General Data Protection Regulation and failing to safeguard children's information were among the reasons why Ireland's data regulators fined the social media company.

The Meta-owned social media platform was investigated for two years by the Data Protection Commission. There were complaints that the accounts of all users, including those under the age of 18, were defaults to public settings. The contact information of children using business accounts was made public.

The fine was related to settings that were updated more than a year ago, according to the company. Since July last year, it has released features to keep teenagers' information private.

Teens are being told that their contact information will be made public unless they remove it.

We disagree with how this fine was calculated and plan to appeal it. The company said they were continuing to review the decision.

One of the largest fines under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation has been handed to Meta. Next week, the full details of the regulator's decision will be made public.

In March, Meta was fined 17 million euro by the Irish regulators. The company was fined for violating privacy laws.

Meta has decided to accept the Facebook decision.

In response to global government scrutiny and concerns from child safety advocates, the platform paused plans to launch a custom version of the app for users under the age of 13. The company confirmed that the project is still paused and that it is not certain when it will launch.

Changes to social networks were made last year to protect children's privacy when the Children's Code became law.

Other countries, including Ireland, Australia, and Canada, have drawn up their own rules in response to the regulations.

The age-appropriate design code was approved last week by the state Senate.

Lady Beeban Kidron, chair of children's digital rights charity 5 Rights, said there is an urgent priority for a universal settlement for children's privacy.

Social media companies have been slow to accept the negative effects of their products on children. She said that safety-by-design is the minimum that should be expected.

There are additional reports by Jude in Dublin.

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