EU Demands Meta Disable Autoplay and Infinite Scroll

The European Union has demanded that Meta abandon a number of user-engagement mechanisms on its platforms, warning of the risk of significant fines should the company refuse to comply.

As Ars Technica reports, the demands concern first and foremost the automatic playback of content and the infinite scrolling of the feed — features the regulator considers problematic from the standpoint of user protection.

The Basis — the Digital Services Act

The demands have been made under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Union legislation governing the activities of large online platforms. The DSA could require Meta to make substantial changes to how its services operate.

Details on exactly which of Meta's platforms are affected and the timeframe within which the company must meet the regulator's demands are not provided in the announcement.

What Comes Next

European authorities have made it clear that non-compliance could bring major penalties. Meta has not yet commented on the situation.

The initiative fits into the European Union's broader course of tightening oversight of large technology companies and of the mechanisms that, in regulators' view, encourage users' excessive engagement with the platforms.

Source: Ars Technica