The European Commission will soon introduce a new legal proposal called the "EU Children’s Law," aimed at restricting access for children under 15 to social platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This proposal also includes new safety requirements for online services, including video games and AI chatbots.
Age Restrictions and Safety Requirements
Under this law, children under 15 will not be able to create accounts on social media and video platforms without parental approval. This action specifically responds to increasing pressures from various European countries, including France, Greece, Austria, Denmark, and Spain, for the establishment of unified regulations to prevent fragmentation of laws at the national level.
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In July, a group of experts, invited by the European Commission, presented a set of proposals to improve online safety for children, many of which are reflected in the draft of the new law. The draft states: "Technology companies bear the primary responsibility for securing their products. Parents, not algorithms, should raise Europe’s children."
Scope and New Requirements
This proposal goes beyond what was initially envisioned, including other online services that may be harmful to children, such as video games and AI bots. The new law specifically focuses on social platforms and video-sharing services that are considered "design-specific risks for children."
Additionally, access to social media and high-risk services will be completely banned for children under three years old. Children between three and thirteen years old can access child-friendly services under adult supervision, while individuals aged 13 to 15 will have limited access to these platforms.
Major tech companies like Meta and Google will be required to verify the age of users when creating new accounts, using an age verification app that will be introduced across the European Union.
Safety Regulations and Oversight
The draft of the EU Children’s Law includes a list of actions that technology companies must take to provide a safe and age-appropriate experience. Specifically, this law prohibits design features such as endless scrolling and artificial notifications. Recommendation systems must also be designed to avoid "rabbit holes" and recommendations based solely on engagement-related signals.
This proposal also anticipates that parents will receive age-appropriate parental control tools for their children. Ultimately, the European Commission has decided to place the burden of proof for compliance with child safety laws on technology companies due to repeated criticisms of lax enforcement of digital regulations.
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