The European Commission is preparing to roll out a new age verification application designed to restrict children’s access to online platforms, President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday.
The app, which will be compatible with both mobile devices and computers, is expected to be available soon and will allow users to verify their age by uploading identification documents such as a passport or ID card. According to the Commission, the process will be designed to preserve user anonymity.
‘We are moving ahead with full speed and determination on the enforcement of our European rules. We are holding accountable those online platforms that do not protect our kids enough,’ von der Leyen said at a press conference in Brussels.
She added that the tool would provide parents, teachers, and caregivers with greater control over children’s digital environments, stressing that the EU would show zero tolerance toward companies that fail to respect children’s rights online.
The initiative comes amid growing momentum across Europe to introduce stricter rules on minors’ access to social media. Following Australia’s landmark move last year to ban social media use for children, several European countries are now considering or implementing similar restrictions.
At least a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom and Norway, have introduced or are debating minimum age requirements for social media use, typically ranging between 13 and 16 years.
EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen said the bloc is working on a coordinated approach to ensure age verification systems function across national frameworks. The Commission has been developing a harmonized digital verification solution since last year.
Despite the initiative, officials acknowledge that technical challenges remain. A senior Commission official noted that the system could be bypassed through the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to mask their location and identity online.
However, the official emphasized that the goal is not to police internet users but to reduce the risk of children encountering inappropriate content.
‘The app is the kind of barrier that avoids unintended exposure of kids,’ the official said.
While no binding EU-wide legislation has yet been adopted, the European Parliament passed a resolution in November calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media access across member states.
A final decision on potential legislation is expected after a special panel on child online safety delivers its recommendations later this summer.
The planned rollout marks a significant step in the EU’s broader effort to strengthen digital safety standards and protect minors in an increasingly complex online environment.
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