VON DER LEYEN CONFIRMS THE EU IS PREPARING A SOCIAL MEDIA AGE VERIFICATION SYSTEM.
Geplaatst: 16 jul 2026 12:21
VON DER LEYEN CONFIRMS THE EU IS PREPARING A SOCIAL MEDIA AGE VERIFICATION SYSTEM.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is developing an age verification app for social media platforms and plans to bring forward legislation after the summer.
She described the app as:
• "Easy to use."
• "Privacy-preserving."
• Open source.
Von der Leyen said the goal is to prevent children accessing social media before a legally defined minimum age, comparing it to age limits for driving or buying alcohol.
MY ASSESSMENT: Age verification may begin with protecting children, but many Europeans will ask where the line is ultimately drawn. Any digital identity or age verification system must be subject to strict safeguards, clear legal limits and democratic scrutiny to ensure it cannot gradually evolve into a broader tool for monitoring or restricting lawful online activity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is developing an age verification app for social media platforms and plans to bring forward legislation after the summer.
She described the app as:
• "Easy to use."
• "Privacy-preserving."
• Open source.
Von der Leyen said the goal is to prevent children accessing social media before a legally defined minimum age, comparing it to age limits for driving or buying alcohol.
MY ASSESSMENT: Age verification may begin with protecting children, but many Europeans will ask where the line is ultimately drawn. Any digital identity or age verification system must be subject to strict safeguards, clear legal limits and democratic scrutiny to ensure it cannot gradually evolve into a broader tool for monitoring or restricting lawful online activity.