EU to make WhatsApp more responsible for tackling harmful content

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The European Commission has formally designated Meta-owned WhatsApp as a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, increasing its responsibility for addressing illegal and harmful content. The designation specifically applies to WhatsApp’s channels feature, not to its core private messaging service.

According to the Commission, WhatsApp channels reached an average of 51.7 million monthly active users in the European Union during the first half of 2025, exceeding the 45 million user threshold set by the DSA. Platforms above this limit are subject to stricter obligations, including enhanced risk assessments and stronger measures to limit the spread of illegal content.

The Digital Services Act requires very large platforms to invest more heavily in content moderation systems, a process that can be costly due to the scale of data involved and that also raises concerns around user privacy. Other companies already classified under the same category include Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Temu and Microsoft’s LinkedIn.

Following the designation, Meta has four months to bring WhatsApp channels into full compliance with the additional DSA requirements, setting a deadline of mid-May 2026. A WhatsApp spokesperson said the company remains committed to improving safety and integrity measures as its channels continue to grow across the EU and globally.

France’s lower house backs social media ban for those under 15 years old

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France’s National Assembly has approved legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, reflecting growing concern over online bullying and the impact of digital environments on young users’ mental health. The decision marks a significant step in France’s efforts to strengthen child protection in the digital sphere.

Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that social media platforms expose minors to harassment, addictive content patterns and psychological pressure at a critical stage of emotional development. The legislation seeks to tighten age verification requirements and place greater responsibility on technology companies to prevent underage access to their services.

The vote comes amid a broader European debate on regulating social media use among minors. Several governments have raised alarms over rising rates of anxiety, depression and cyberbullying linked to excessive screen time and online interaction. French officials say the measure is intended to give families and schools stronger tools to manage children’s digital habits.

The bill now moves to further legislative review before it can become law. If fully approved, the restrictions could significantly change how social media platforms operate in France and how young users engage with online content.

Tether Adds 27 Tons of Gold to Reserves in Fourth Quarter

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Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, said it added about 27 metric tons of gold to its fund exposure in the fourth quarter of 2025, broadly in line with its estimated third-quarter purchases.

The accumulation comes amid a powerful rally in gold prices. Gold has risen 18% year-to-date after gaining 64% in 2025, breaking through multiple psychological milestones, including $3,000 per ounce in March, $4,000 in October and $5,000 on Monday. The surge has been driven by strong investment flows, central bank buying and retail demand as global geopolitical tensions persist.

Tether has emerged as a notable source of gold demand due to the pace at which it has expanded reserves backing its digital assets. The company issues the USDT stablecoin, which has about $187 billion worth of tokens in circulation, and the gold-backed XAUT token, valued at roughly $2.7 billion.

Each USDT token is designed to represent one U.S. dollar held in reserve, backed by assets such as U.S. Treasury bills and gold. Tether’s XAUT token is fully backed by physical gold. According to the company, it held 16.2 tons of gold to support XAUT at the end of December, accounting for about 60% of the global gold-backed stablecoin supply.

“We are operating at a scale that now places the Tether Gold Investment Fund alongside sovereign gold holders, and that carries real responsibility,” said Paolo Ardoino in a statement.

For comparison, Poland’s central bank, the most active reported buyer among central banks, increased its gold reserves by 35 tons in the fourth quarter to a total of 550 tons. Tether did not disclose the total amount of gold it holds in Switzerland across its products.

Tether’s most recent publicly available audit of USDT reserves showed gold holdings worth $12.9 billion as of the end of September, equivalent to about 104 tons at then-prevailing prices. Despite the increase, gold represented only around 7% of USDT reserves at that time, with U.S. Treasuries remaining the dominant asset.