Brussels plots sweeping child social media ban, critics warn freedoms crushed in digital clampdown

The European Union is preparing to announce a sweeping plan to safeguard children online, but new restrictions on social media use and mandatory age checks have sparked controversy. At a speech to the European Parliament, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to detail how the 27-nation bloc intends to curb children's social media consumption.

The proposal to restrict minors' access will hinge on whether the limit is set at age 13 or 15, with France advocating for the latter. Denmark and Greece have led calls for stricter measures, as have Australia and Britain. Critics warn the restrictions may infringe upon children's rights to freedom of expression and access to information, potentially depriving them of vital social connections and resources.

The EU is set to introduce an age-check system later this year to enforce the limits, but civil society groups and privacy advocates fear the app could compromise users' privacy and hinder online speech. An online content law, the Digital Services Act, has already pressured Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to change their "addictive" designs.