EU to propose KIDS Act on social media safety
The proposal will propose a new enforcement structure similar to existing laws'.
The European Commission plans to introduce the EU KIDS Act on Thursday, aiming to establish a minimum age requirement for accessing social media across the European Union. The proposed legislation will mandate online products to prioritize safety by design, according to preliminary documents obtained by POLITICO. Commission spokesperson Olof Gil announced the act's impending introduction during a press conference scheduled for Monday.
This new proposal emerges following significant pressure from political leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, who is advocating for heightened protection of minors on social media platforms. France is currently progressing with a national law that seeks to restrict access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for children.
The EU's proposal encompasses social media, video-sharing platforms, online gaming, and AI chatbots and companions, but it will not apply to educational tools. Additionally, the act will include resources to assist parents and guardians. The regulatory framework accompanying the proposal is expected to mirror those of the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act, featuring supervisory fees payable by companies.
These influential laws would centralize enforcement of the most risky companies and services under the European Commission's purview. The complete text of the proposal is yet to be finalized and will necessitate negotiations with EU governments and lawmakers.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
