Make tech executives liable if platforms don’t protect kids, say EU lawmakers

BRUSSELS — Members of the European Parliament want to make tech executives personally liable for failing to protect children online, under a proposal seen by POLITICO.

Momentum for action to protect kids on the internet is growing in Europe, amid concerns about the health effects of highly addictive platforms and exposure to violent content.

While the Parliament proposal would have no formal legislative weight, it is notable for putting top tech executives such as Mark Zuckerberg in the crosshairs of growing frustrations over accountability and enforcement of Europe’s tech laws.

It comes as the European Commission progresses investigations into Meta, TikTok and major porn platforms for potential breaches of its platform law, the Digital Services Act, related to the protection of minors.

The proposal is set to be voted on by the Parliament’s internal market committee on Thursday, in a report setting out how to protect kids on the internet.

The final draft of the report says the Commission should consider making tech company executives “personally liable” for any “serious and persistent” breaches of the DSA when it comes to minors.

The suggestion was put forward by Hungarian conservative lawmaker Dóra Dávid, who is a former Meta employee. Dávid worked at the tech company as product counsel before she won a Parliament seat in 2024.

Danish socialist Christel Schaldemose, who is leading the report, said she expects the final version to pass but noted it’s hard to be certain. The report would then move to a full Parliament vote in November.

It comes as the European Commission progresses investigations into Meta, TikTok and major porn platforms for potential breaches of its platform law. | Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The proposal relates to platforms with more than 45 million users in the EU. Those companies have to comply with stricter requirements on risk mitigation and transparency related to disinformation, illegal content and protection of minors.

If companies are found to have breached the regulation they can be fined up to 6 percent of their annual global revenues. None of the ongoing investigations have yet led to fines.

The U.S. Trump administration has taken aim at the EU’s efforts to enforce its tech laws, saying they amount to censorship and discriminate against American companies.