Brussels: The European Commission launched a formal investigation into Snapchat on Thursday to assess whether it complies with rules on children's online safety, privacy and protection. The Commission said it opened proceedings to determine whether Snapchat is acting in line with the Digital Services Act (DSA).

According to Anadolu Agency, the investigation aims to determine if Snapchat has exposed children to harmful content, criminal activities, and the sale of illegal products. The probe was initiated due to concerns about age verification, child exploitation risks, and the potential steering of minors toward criminal activities. Additionally, there are concerns that Snapchat's default settings may not provide sufficient privacy, safety, and protection for its young users.

Under the EU's tech rules, major digital platforms operating in Europe are required to comply with the bloc's regulations. The Commission holds the authority to impose hefty fines on digital platforms found to be in breach of these rules. In cases of repeated violations, the platform concerned could ultimately be barred from operating in the EU.