Five European Countries to Pilot Age Verification App for Online Child Protection

Five EU countries—France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece—are set to pilot an age verification app to enhance child protection on the internet. This initiative is part of the European Union’s broader push to enforce its Digital Services Act, which aims to curb harmful content online. The app will operate based on technical specifications of the European Digital Identity Wallet, which is set to launch next year. The participating countries will have the flexibility to adapt the model to their local needs, either integrating it into national apps or using it separately. The new app is designed to help online platforms comply with stricter regulations introduced to tackle illegal online content, cyberbullying, and addictive designs, especially on major platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok. EU regulators hope this move will make online spaces safer for children by reducing exposure to harmful materials, while also providing a clearer framework for platforms to follow. Despite some criticism about privacy concerns, proponents argue that such measures are necessary to protect minors from inappropriate content.