Apple, Snapchat and YouTube face a row in the European Union over online risks to children

The European Union has summoned tech giants Apple, Snapchat and YouTube for questioning over growing concerns about online safety risks for children on their platforms.

Officials in Brussels say the companies must explain how their algorithms, privacy policies and design features protect—or potentially harm—minors in the digital world.

The investigation falls under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which demands stricter accountability from major online platforms regarding content moderation, data handling and user protection.

European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton said the hearing would focus on issues such as addictive content, exposure to harmful material and data privacy breaches involving minors.

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“We want concrete answers, not PR statements. Big tech companies must show that they take children’s safety seriously,” Breton said.

The Commission has also requested information from Google Play and the Apple App Store regarding steps taken to stop children from downloading harmful or unlawful apps, such as apps that contain sexual content or gambling.

“Privacy, security and safety must be guaranteed, and this is not always the case, and that is why the commission is tightening our enforcement,” technology chief Henna Virkkunen said before EU ministers met in Denmark.

The move follows increasing public pressure across Europe to hold social media and technology platforms accountable for their impact on teenagers’ mental health, especially after several reports linked social media use to anxiety, depression and sleep disorders among teenagers.