EU to Launch Age Verification App to Protect Minors

In July, EU authorities will launch an app that will allow residents of the region to verify their age to register and work on some digital platforms. This could mean that the platform administrators will soon face stricter rules aimed at protecting minors online.

According to the publication, the program “will allow users to confirm their age without disclosing personal information.” The innovation is seen by experts as a tool to put pressure on technology companies, which, according to Brussels, are not making enough efforts “to assess and manage risks.” As Henna Virkkunen, Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, told the FT, “the protection of minors is a priority for the EC, which will require a range of measures.” These measures include, in particular, ensuring that children’s accounts are closed by default.

With an age verification app in place, EU leaders could tighten rules on digital platforms they believe are not doing enough on their own to assess and manage threats.