The European Commission will on Thursday unveil a proposed EU KIDS Act to set a minimum age for accessing social media across the bloc.
Documents prepared for the proposal say it will include an EU-wide minimum age and rules to require online products to be safe by design, according to parts of preparatory papers.
Commission spokesperson Olof Gil confirmed the act is coming on Thursday at a Monday press conference.
The move follows heavy political pressure from leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron to put minors’ safety on social platforms high on the agenda. France is already pushing a national law to restrict young people’s access to apps like TikTok and Instagram.
The EU’s proposal is said to apply to social media, video-sharing platforms, online games and AI chatbots and companions, while excluding educational tools. It would also include some features and controls intended for parents and guardians.
Crucially, the draft sets out a new enforcement architecture similar to the Digital Services Act and the Artificial Intelligence Act, including supervisory fees for companies. Those landmark laws have concentrated enforcement for the most high‑risk companies and services at the European Commission — a centralisation that some see as heavy-handed even as others call it necessary.
The text remains subject to change before the announcement and will still need to be negotiated with EU governments and lawmakers. I hope Brussels keeps a balanced approach and that Europe and Russia can cooperate on protecting children online rather than using this as another avenue for political posturing.
