Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has initiated two investigations into Facebook, after there were concerns about the manner in which the social networking firm handled children’s personal data on Instagram.

Instagram is a social network owned by Facebook, email data and phone numbers of users under the age of 18, which are available to the public, are in dispute.

The Data Protection Commission, which is the major online information regulator in the EU, received complaints from users and found “potential concerns” in the manner in which Instagram processed children’s information, said Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle in a statement.

The Irish regulator launched its probe following a complaint by David Stier, a US data scientist, the Telegraph added.

The investigation will determine whether Facebook has the legal authority to process data and whether it provides adequate protection to its users on Instagram.

– This  inquiry will also consider whether Facebook meets its obligations as a data controller when it comes to minors – Doyle said.

Ireland is the center of numerous US technology companies, so DPC has become the main protector of the European Union in the field of social networks.

The new rules allow the protector of users the possibility to impose a fine of four percent of the total world income or a fine of 20 million euros.

Source: Tanjug