Google Under Scrutiny for Instagram Partnership
(Reuters) – European regulators have requested additional information from Google regarding its now-scrapped secret advertising collaboration with Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram, which bypassed Google's policies on protecting minors online, as reported by the Financial Times.
An investigation by FT revealed in August that Google assisted Meta in a covert marketing initiative aimed at 13- to 17-year-olds on YouTube, promoting Instagram. This partnership, which was intended to expand globally, has been discontinued.
Despite this, European Commission officials are investigating the partnership and gathering data to decide potential actions, according to FT. In October, regulators instructed Alphabet's lawyers to compile and review all relevant data, presentations, internal discussions, and emails concerning the campaign.
A Google spokesperson stated, "The safeguards we have to protect teens, like prohibiting ad personalization, are industry-leading and continue to work." They emphasized that the company has enhanced internal training for sales teams to ensure adherence to policies and protective measures.
Meta, which also owns Facebook, and the European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Google restricts ad-targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of individuals under 18 years old. Earlier this year, Meta introduced improved privacy and parental controls for Instagram users under 18, addressing rising concerns about social media's harmful impacts.
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