Brussels, Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s age verification app for online platforms is ready and will soon be available for use. Her comments came as member states advance efforts to limit children’s access to social media.
App rollout and enforcement focus
Von der Leyen said at a press conference in Brussels that the EU is moving ahead with enforcement of its rules and will hold online platforms accountable if they do not do enough to protect children. She said the app will be compatible with mobile devices and computers and will require users to upload a passport or ID card to confirm their age anonymously.
Support for parents and caretakers
Von der Leyen said the app is intended to give parents, teachers and caretakers a tool to protect children, and reiterated a zero-tolerance approach toward companies that do not respect children’s rights.
National measures and EU coordination
At least a dozen European countries, including Britain and Norway, have enacted or are considering legislation setting minimum age limits for social media use, typically between 13 and 16 years. Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s digital chief, said the bloc plans to establish a European coordination mechanism to ensure age verification is implemented across various national schemes.
Parliament position and Commission work
No EU-wide binding legislation has been adopted, but the European Parliament approved a resolution report in November calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media access across all member states. The Commission has been developing a harmonised digital verification system since last year.
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