European Union regulators have issued preliminary findings against Meta Platforms, saying the company has failed to effectively prevent children under the age of 13 from using Facebook and Instagram.

The European Commission said its investigation found that Meta’s current safeguards do not meet the requirements of the Digital Services Act, the bloc’s landmark online safety law.

Although Meta’s terms of service require users to be at least 13 years old, regulators said the company’s age-verification systems are insufficient. Children can reportedly create accounts simply by entering a false date of birth, with no effective mechanism in place to confirm their real age.

According to the Commission, between 10% and 12% of children under 13 in the European Union are using Facebook or Instagram. That figure is significantly higher than Meta’s own internal estimates.

Regulators also said Meta failed to adequately consider established scientific research showing that younger children are particularly vulnerable to potential harms associated with social media use, including exposure to inappropriate content and risks to mental well-being.

Meta has rejected the Commission’s preliminary conclusions. In a statement, the company said both Facebook and Instagram are intended only for users aged 13 and older and that it already has systems in place to identify and remove underage accounts.

The company added that it continues to invest in technologies designed to detect younger users and indicated that additional safety measures will be announced in the coming days.

Meta also argued that determining a user’s true age remains a challenge across the technology industry and said a broader, industry-wide solution is needed. The company pledged to continue working with European regulators on the issue.

The findings come as several EU member states consider introducing wider restrictions on children’s access to social media, including proposals to ban use by those under 15.

To address the problem, the European Union is preparing to launch its own age-verification app. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month that the technology is ready for rollout, although no official launch date has been announced.

Meta now has the opportunity to review the Commission’s findings and submit a formal response.

If the preliminary conclusions are upheld, the Commission could issue a binding non-compliance ruling. Under the Digital Services Act, penalties can reach up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue, potentially exposing Meta to fines worth billions of euros.

Europe is strengthening its position in the global competition for artificial intelligence talent, as stricter U.S. immigration rules and shifting international workforce trends encourage more professionals to consider careers across the continent.

A new study by the Germany-based think tank Interface found that countries including Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands are increasingly attracting AI specialists, helping Europe establish itself as a major global market for skilled technology workers.

The research, based on data from workforce intelligence firm Revelio Labs, analysed 1.6 million AI professionals worldwide. It found that while the United States and India remain the dominant players, Europe is emerging as a strong third centre for AI expertise.

The United States continues to lead in advanced AI engineering and research roles, while India remains particularly competitive in software development and non-technical positions. Both countries have close to one million AI professionals.

Within Europe, the United Kingdom ranks as the world’s third-largest AI labour market, with around 145,000 professionals. Germany has become one of the continent’s standout performers, boasting approximately 17,000 AI engineers, the fourth-highest total globally.

Several other European nations, including Italy, France and the Netherlands, also rank among the world’s top 10 markets by total AI workforce.

On a per-capita basis, however, smaller countries are proving especially competitive. Ireland ranks second globally behind Singapore, with 4.19 AI professionals for every 1,000 residents. Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark also place among the world’s leading markets by population.

The Netherlands has become an increasingly attractive destination for American AI professionals relocating to Europe. It now has the highest number of AI engineers within the European Union, although investment in Dutch AI start-ups remains below the European average.

European cities are also gaining prominence. Munich, Amsterdam and Berlin are the only cities in Europe to rank among the world’s top 25 for concentration of AI professionals.

The study also highlighted the growing importance of Indian talent to Europe’s AI ambitions. Indians now account for more than 16% of the global AI workforce, with an increasing number choosing Europe for education and employment.

Across the European Union, the share of Indian AI professionals rose from 7.7% in 2024 to 8.3% in 2025. Ireland has seen particularly strong growth, with Indian professionals now making up nearly 30% of its AI workforce.

Researchers said Europe’s ability to develop domestic talent while continuing to attract skilled workers from abroad will be critical to maintaining its growing role in the rapidly evolving AI sector.