EU Commission Pushes for Broad Age-Verification Systems Beyond Social Media

• The EU Commission is proposing strict, tiered age-based access controls for a wide range of online services, expanding beyond social media to include app stores, video games, AI, and chatbots.
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocates for a "Social Media Plus" framework based on recent expert recommendations.
• The proposal suggests a system where children under 3 have no screen time, those 3–13 require supervision, and those 13–17 access only age-appropriate services.
• Critics, including the German Ethics Council and over 400 global researchers, warn that mandatory age verification threatens privacy, autonomy, and could be misused for censorship.

The "Social Media Plus" Framework

• The concept extends well beyond traditional social media platforms to "risky" online services.
• Implementation would rely on technical age-verification systems, potentially involving digital identification tools like the proposed EU "Mini-Wallet."
• Ursula von der Leyen has signaled support for these technical controls, aiming for a legislative proposal potentially by September 2026.

Professional and Ethical Opposition

• The German Ethics Council has explicitly rejected the proposed "Mini-Wallet" and the notion of mandatory age verification, citing risks of surveillance and abuse.
• Over 400 researchers from 29 countries have issued an open letter calling for a halt to such legislation, arguing it lacks a scientific basis and poses a "dangerous" threat to digital rights.
• Domestic debate in Germany remains divided, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other officials expressing skepticism toward a blanket ban on social media.