Motion Picture Association hits Meta with cease-and-desist over use of ‘PG-13’ label

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Meta, requesting the company halt its use of the term "PG-13" in relation to content on Instagram. This development comes after Meta announced that teenagers on the platform would, by default, only be exposed to content deemed appropriate according to PG-13 movie ratings. Just two weeks after Meta's announcement, the MPA asserted in its letter that the claim regarding PG-13 compliance for content on teen Instagram accounts is "literally false and highly misleading." The association emphasized that its established movie-rating system cannot be equated with Meta's content moderation practices, which the MPA believes are overly reliant on artificial intelligence. In the letter, the MPA expressed concern about the potential impact on public trust in its rating system, stating, "The MPA has worked for decades to earn the public’s trust in its rating system. Any dissatisfaction with Meta’s automated classification will inevitably cause the public to question the integrity of the MPA’s rating system." In response, Meta clarified that it has not claimed that its teen accounts are certified by the MPA or carry an official PG-13 rating. The company emphasized that its content limitations are "guided" by PG-13 standards rather than directly aligned with MPA regulations, arguing that its use of the term falls under fair use regulations.