The European Commission has introduced a new digital tool to verify users’ ages on online platforms, aiming to establish it as the European standard. The initiative was presented by President Ursula von der Leyen on April 15 during an event in Brussels, Bloomberg reports.
This system aims to streamline the age verification process and eliminate excuses from platforms that fail to ensure adequate access control, preventing minors from accessing potentially harmful content. Simultaneously, the EU offers a free and user-friendly tool to promote the protection of children from harmful and illegal materials.
The new system, which will be open and compatible with smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, requires users to verify their age using official documents such as a passport. It is expected to streamline age verification regulations across the EU, addressing the current variability in member states’ approaches. For instance, France and Greece have announced bans on younger teenagers using social media, citing research on the negative impacts on children.
To avoid fragmentation of the digital market, an expert group led by Ursula von der Leyen has been established in Brussels to develop recommendations for a unified European age verification mechanism by the end of this year. The President of the European Commission also plans to participate in a video conference convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss potential social media restrictions for minors.
Under the new rules, the implementation of age verification systems or their equivalents will be mandatory for platforms governed by child protection laws, especially websites hosting pornographic content. Consequently, several platforms are currently under scrutiny for potential violations of the Digital Services Act, as they employed unreliable mechanisms allowing users to self-report their age. Non-compliance with these regulations could result in fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.
The EU initiative arises in response to increasing pressure on technology companies, including Meta and Alphabet, to strengthen online child protection measures. This application is considered a key component of this policy framework.