The European Commission has urged EU member states to accelerate the adoption of a European age verification application and make it available by the end of the year, as part of efforts to enhance the protection of minors online.
In a recommendation adopted on Wednesday in Strasbourg, the Commission said the application, designed to be secure and privacy-preserving, is a key tool to prevent children from accessing harmful or inappropriate content on the internet.
According to Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for technological sovereignty, member states can develop the application either as a standalone tool or by integrating it into the European Digital Identity Wallet. The recommendation also sets out the steps required for its rapid deployment and for ensuring interoperability across EU countries.
The Commission has already developed a core model for the application, allowing users to prove they meet a required age threshold without disclosing their exact age, identity or other personal data.
Implementation and adaptation of the tool now fall to the member states. However, the Commission stressed that protecting minors online remains a priority. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms are required to ensure a high level of privacy and safety for underage users.
Source: CNA