DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's media regulator has started two investigations into Meta. It wants to check if the company broke the EU's Digital Services Act, including by using "dark patterns" on Facebook and Instagram.

The investigation by Coimisiún na Meán will examine whether Facebook and Instagram designs trick or pressure users into choosing feeds based on their personal data, rather than giving them a real choice.

A recommender system is a tool that suggests content, products, or services to users. "Dark patterns" are designs that confuse or mislead people, making it harder for them to choose a feed that does not use their personal data.

The regulator will also check whether users can easily choose and change their preferred feed type, and whether this option is clearly available on both platforms.

John Evans from Coimisiún na Meán said many people are worried about recommender systems and how they can repeatedly show harmful content, especially to children and young people.

He reminded users that they have the right to choose a feed that does not depend on their personal data. He also said big online platforms must make this option easy to find and use, and must not design their apps in a way that pushes users away from this choice.

He added that it is unacceptable for platforms to block people from using their rights or try to influence their decisions unfairly.

Evans said that more than two years after the Digital Services Act came into force, it has helped balance power between users and online platforms, making platforms more responsible and giving users more rights.

A Meta spokesperson said the company disagrees with the claims and believes it has followed the law. They said Meta has made major changes to meet the rules and will cooperate with the investigation. They also said they introduced an option in 2023 that lets users choose a feed not based on personal data.

Noeline Blackwell from the Children's Rights Alliance said Meta should create safer systems and work with the regulator.

She explained that when people go online, platforms collect information about them to build profiles, which can then be used to suggest content. She said this should only happen if users agree, and people should be able to turn it off easily.

She added that the regulator is particularly concerned that children's and young people's data may be used to push content at them.