ARTICLE 19 raises free expression concerns over Meta child-safety settlement
ARTICLE 19 has criticised Meta’s US settlement on child safety, arguing that some of the agreed measures could restrict freedom of expression and privacy while leaving broader platform design issues insufficiently addressed.
Meta has agreed to changes to Instagram and Facebook as part of a settlement with 52 US state, territorial and District of Columbia attorneys general over allegations concerning the impact of its platforms on children. The agreement could involve up to $18 billion in payments.
The settlement includes several measures affecting teenage users, such as a default two-hour daily limit, restrictions on access between midnight and 6am, changes to autoplay and recommendations, stronger parental controls, and an option to use a non-personalised feed.
ARTICLE 19 argues that these measures place significant emphasis on restricting when and how long children can use social media rather than addressing some of the platform features that may contribute to harmful experiences. The organisation points in particular to personalised recommendation systems and other engagement-driven features.
The group also raises concerns about age-assurance requirements included in the settlement. Determining which users are underage may require both children and adults to provide information or undergo age checks. ARTICLE 19 warns that wider use of such systems could reduce online anonymity and increase the collection of personal information, creating additional privacy and freedom of expression risks.
Another concern is the way the settlement was reached. The agreement ended the expected trial after only a few days, meaning that several issues were not fully examined in open court. ARTICLE 19 argues that measures affecting the way millions of people access and communicate online should be subject to public scrutiny, transparency and opportunities for independent legal review.
The organisation is also concerned that the settlement could influence policy beyond the participating US jurisdictions. Part of the payment is conditional on similar measures being introduced by TikTok and YouTube, potentially turning the agreement into a broader industry standard.
ARTICLE 19 concludes that protecting children online is an important objective, but argues that restrictions on access should be proportionate and should not replace efforts to address platform design and business practices that contribute to harm. It calls for greater evidence, transparency and democratic scrutiny when developing measures that affect children’s and adults’ rights online.
