Ireland's Media Regulator Investigates Meta's Recommender Systems for DSA Violations
Ireland's media regulator Coimisiún na Meán launched investigations into Meta's recommender systems for Facebook and Instagram, focusing on whether the company breaches the EU Digital Services Act by making it difficult for users to access non-profiling feeds and by allegedly using manipulative interface designs to discourage such choices.
What happened
Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland's media regulator, opened investigations into Meta's recommender systems for Facebook and Instagram on 5 May 2026.
The investigations assess whether Meta has breached the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to provide users with easily accessible alternatives to profiling-based recommender feeds, and whether the platform uses 'dark patterns'—manipulative and deceptive interface designs—to discourage users from choosing non-profiling feeds.
Reported impact
Coimisiún na Meán expressed concern that recommender systems 'can potentially cause harm by repeatedly pushing harmful content into the feeds of users, especially children and young people.'
Meta announced a non-profiling option on Facebook and Instagram in 2023 in response to the DSA.
Index analysis
The DSA requires users to have the right to choose a recommender system feed not based on profiling and to access this option in a direct and easily accessible way.
Regulators in Europe are shifting focus from the content posted on platforms to the design of the systems themselves.
Governance controls
Meta stated it disagreed with suggestions that it had breached the Digital Services Act and said it had introduced substantial changes to its processes and systems to meet regulatory obligations.
If Meta is found to have violated the DSA, it could face a fine of up to 6% of turnover.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.