EU faces revolt over social media ban for children
Brussels faces criticism from all sides, with children's groups warning of curbs on minors' freedoms and digital rights groups questioning age checks.
The European Union is set to unveil its plans to protect children online, but proposals to limit their social media use and require age verification have sparked controversy. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce the strategy during a speech to the European Parliament next week, weighing whether to restrict children under 13 or 15.
This comes after pressure from many EU states, including Denmark and Greece, and following Australia's successful ban in 2025. Critics argue that the restrictions could infringe on minors' freedoms and access to information, while digital rights groups worry about the effectiveness of age checks. The EU plans to roll out an age-check system later this year, using a cryptographic system to verify users' ages without collecting personal data.
However, security experts have raised concerns about potential flaws in the system. While broad support exists among member states, not all are in agreement, with some arguing that platforms should be regulated instead of restricting children's access.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
