Five countries will test an age verification application

“This device will allow users to easily prove that they are over 18 years old. Consequently, which will protect children from inappropriate content,” said Henna Virkkunen, European commissioner responsible for technological issues.

Very concretely. However, it is a European prototype that each Member State can adjust according to its own rules: for example depending on a ban is in force on the Internet for children aged 12, 13 or 15, etc.

The first five countries to take the plunge are France, Denmark, Greece, Italy and Spain.

This proposal was particularly pushed by France. However, the minister in charge of digital, Clara Chappaz, defending an age verification “at European level” to access social networks.

In early June. French President Emmanuel Macron is committed to prohibiting social networks under 15 in France if, “in a few months”, this was not done at European level.

“Plus d’excuse”

The European Union has one five countries will test age of the most strict legislative arsenal in the world to supervise digital giants.

But calls to go further multiply among the twenty-seven. while studies demonstrate the negative effects of social networks on the mental and physical health of young people.

On Monday. the European Commission also published recommendations for social networks for young people, to allow for example minors to block users more easily.

These measures also include the deletion of potentially addictive features such as the “nicks”. which indicate that a message has been read and can push an answer frantically.

“It is essential to ensure that our children and young people are safe online,” said Commissioner Henna Virkkunen. “Platforms have no excuse for pursuing practices that endanger children,” she said.

Brussels is currently conducting surveys on Facebook. Instagram social networks of the American group Meta, as well as on Tiktok, as part of its new Digital Services Regulations (DSA). These platforms are suspected five countries will test age of not sufficiently protecting children from harmful content.

At the end of May. the Commission also opened an investigation into four pornographic sites (pornhub, stripchat, xnxx, and xvideos) suspected of not preventing children’s access to adult content.