The UK government is urging Meta, the owner of Instagram, to apply the same sweeping child safeguards agreed in a major US court settlement to British users, ensuring young people here receive equivalent protections. Following a lawsuit by US states over alleged harm to children through the platform, Meta reached a deal that could impose fines of up to $18 billion, prompting calls for consistency in global standards. Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden criticized the idea of US children having stronger protections than their British counterparts, signaling pressure on Meta to extend the measures worldwide. The push highlights growing concerns over social media safety for young users amid rising regulatory scrutiny.
Minister calls for Instagram owner to extend sweeping new safeguards for young users to BritainUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government expects the Instagram owner Meta to roll out the same protections for children in Britain as those it agreed in the US on Wednesday, as part of a court settlement that could cost the company up to $18bn (£13bn).Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, said on Thursday he did not want young people in the US to have “a higher rate of protection” than those in Britain, after Meta settled a lawsuit brought by dozens of US states accusing the company of harming children with dangerous products. Continue reading...
