New digital access rules for children under 15 from the European Union
A new draft law prepared by the European Commission regulates children's access to digital platforms by age group and provides for heavy sanctions.
The European Commission has drafted a new European Children's Act restricting the access of children under 15 to social media, online games, and AI chatbots.
Draft European Children's Act
Expected to be presented in Strasbourg, France, by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tech Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, the regulation includes rules applicable across the 27-member bloc.
Restrictions by Age Groups
According to the draft, children under 3 will be completely banned from social media, while those aged 3 to 13 will only be allowed child-friendly accounts under parental control. Those between 13 and 15 will be able to use basic trial accounts.
Heavy Fines and Sanctions
It is stated that technology platforms failing to comply with the rules will face heavy fines of up to 6 percent of their total annual global revenue.
Ban on Addictive Designs
The European Union aims to bring the structure of digital platforms under control by mandating the complete ban of all design features that pose a risk of addiction in children.