The European Commission has launched an official investigation into the American photo-sharing platform Snapchat.

The European Commission announced on the 26th that it has launched a formal investigation into the U.S. “Thrillab” (Snapchat) photo-sharing app platform, focusing on whether it complies with the child protection requirements under the EU’s Digital Services Act framework. In a notice, the European Commission said that the “Thrillab” platform relies on users’ self-declared ages for age verification, and that this approach is not sufficient—it cannot prevent children under 13 from using the service, nor can it effectively determine whether users are under 17; the platform’s default settings cannot provide adequate privacy and safety protections for minors. For example, children and teenagers may be automatically recommended to other users by the “Find Friends” system. In addition, the “Thrillab” platform may also expose minors to risks of being lured into and even recruited for criminal activities, and it may also expose minors to information about illegal goods such as drugs and age-restricted items such as e-cigarettes and alcohol. The European Commission said it will continue collecting evidence and may require the platform to provide information, conduct interviews, or carry out inspections. In addition, with the formal investigation procedure now underway, the European Commission may also take further enforcement actions. Under the Digital Services Act, companies found in violation may face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover. (Xinhua News Agency)