Meta is facing the threat of fines from the European Union after regulators concluded that the designs of its Facebook and Instagram platforms breach the bloc’s digital laws, according to the BBC and CNBC.

The finding came in a preliminary report published on Friday. According to CNBC, the EU concluded that Instagram and Facebook’s “addictive” designs have put Meta in breach of the European Union’s digital laws.

Regulators pointed to specific design choices as being at the heart of their concerns. According to the BBC, features such as infinite scroll contribute to “compulsive use” and “unhealthy habits” among users.

The BBC reported that regulators framed these features as encouraging behaviour that is not healthy for users, placing the spotlight on how platform design can shape the way people interact with social media.

As a preliminary report, the findings mark an early stage in the regulatory process rather than a final ruling. However, the EU has signalled that Meta could face fines as a result of the breach identified in the assessment.

The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of major technology companies under the European Union’s expanding framework of digital regulation, with the design of widely used social media platforms now under direct examination.