Ireland’s media regulator opened an investigation into Meta in May 2026 over the recommender systems used to surface and rank content on Facebook and Instagram.
The probe will examine whether content appearing in Facebook and Instagram feeds has been “selected and ranked for the user by a system that learns from what they like, what they interact with, or what they spend time on,” according to the regulator’s statement.
The investigation centers on Meta’s use of algorithmic profiling to personalize what users see on its two major social media platforms. By analyzing individual behavior — including likes, interactions, and time spent on content — these systems shape the feeds of millions of users.
Ireland is a significant jurisdiction for Meta, as the company’s European operations are headquartered there, making Irish regulators a key oversight body for the tech giant’s activities across the region. This investigation may have implications for how Meta operates its content recommendation systems for users beyond Ireland’s borders.
Source: Tech-Economic Times