EU chief calls for a bloc-wide push on an age verification app to protect children online. If enforced, users will have to prove their age to access legally restricted sites.
The European Union says a new age verification app is technically ready. The app is designed to meet the bloc’s strict digital rules.
The tool could soon help users prove their age online without sharing personal data, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday.
How does it work?
Once released, users will be able to download the app from an app store and set it up using proof of identity, such as a passport or national ID card.
They can then use it to confirm they are above a certain age when accessing restricted content, without revealing their identity.
According to the Commission, the system is similar to the digital certificates used during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed people to prove their vaccination status.
The app is expected to support enforcement of the bloc’s Digital Services Act, which aims to better regulate online platforms. This includes restricting access to content such as pornography, gambling and alcohol-related services.
Officials say the app will be “completely anonymous” and built on open-source technology, meaning it could also be adopted outside the EU.
Child safety on social media in focus
The pressure to take action at the EU level has been growing since Australia introduced a ban on social media for under-16s.
Several EU countries are now considering introducing minimum age limits for social media use. However, until now, there has been no reliable verification tool that meets the bloc’s strict data protection standards.
“When it comes to the safety of children online, the situation is extremely worrying,” von der Leyen said. She pointed to features such as infinite scrolling, highly personalized content and short-form videos, which she said can be addictive and harmful to young users.
While there is no binding EU-wide law yet, the European Parliament has called for a minimum age of 16 for social media access.
For now, enforcement would largely fall to individual member states, but the new app is intended to help platforms comply with future national and EU rules. (DW)