On Thursday, MEPs from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted a report, by 32 votes in favour, 5 against and with 9 abstentions, in which they express concerns over major online platforms’ failure to protect minors adequately and warn of the risks relating to addiction, mental health, and exposure to illegal and harmful content.

Age assurance and minimums

The text supports the Commission’s efforts to develop privacy-preserving age assurance systems, while warning that such measures must respect children’s rights and privacy, and do not absolve platforms of the responsibility to make their services safe by design.

The MEPs propose an EU-wide digital minimum age of 16 for access to social media, video sharing platforms and AI (artificial intelligence) companions, unless authorised by parents, and a minimum age of 13 to access any social media.

Stronger action by the Commission

The MEPs urge the Commission to make full use of its powers under the Digital…