European Commission Launches Age Verification Pilot to Protect Minors Online
On July 14, 2025, the European Commission launched a pilot program to test an age verification application aimed at protecting minors from online risks. Five countries are participating in this initial phase: France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The goal is to enable internet users to easily prove they are over 18 years old without revealing unnecessary personal information.
Designed as an open-source solution, this system is intended to be interoperable with future European digital identity wallets. Each country can adapt it according to its priorities, such as blocking certain social networks for minors or restricting access to services like online alcohol purchases.
On X (formerly Twitter), French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the initiative as "a victory for the protection of our children": "The European Commission has just confirmed that member states can ban social networks for under a certain age. We've been working on this for years. I've committed to it: France will be on board!"
To reinforce this commitment, Brussels has published a list of recommendations for platforms, including:
- Setting minors' accounts to private mode by default
- Limiting screenshots and disabling certain notifications to prevent overexposure online
