EU Unveils Age Check App for Online Safety

The European Union has launched a new app to verify user ages online, setting a standard for verification technology. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that this easy-to-use solution can shield children from harmful and illegal content.

This software is particularly timely as many EU member states, including France and Greece, are considering or planning to ban younger teens from social media due to concerns about addiction and adverse effects. The open-source tool necessitates users providing legal identification, such as a passport, during its setup process and is compatible with phones, tablets, and personal computers.

This initiative aims to create a coordinated approach across the EU, preventing a fragmented landscape of varying restrictions. Platforms already subject to EU child-protection regulations, like pornography websites, will be required to use this system or one with comparable accuracy. Four pornography websites are currently under investigation for failing to adequately prevent children from accessing their platforms, with potential fines reaching up to 6% of global annual sales under the Digital Services Act.