EU proposes age-based restrictions for social media and AI chatbots for children

The European Union is preparing new age-based restrictions that could limit children under 15 from accessing social media, AI chatbots, online games and other digital services.

The proposal is part of the EU Kids Act, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen are expected to present on Thursday.

The plans would establish different levels of access based on a child’s age and introduce additional requirements for technology companies operating across the EU.

Under the proposal, children would be able to create their own accounts from the age of 15. Children aged 13 and 14 could instead have parents create introductory accounts for social media and video-sharing services, with parental controls, restricted contacts and time limits.

For children aged three to 12, parents would have full control of accounts, which would be limited to child-friendly services meeting specified safety standards. Children under three would not be permitted to access the covered services.

“The Union’s approach should allow minors to benefit from the huge potential of digital services, while protecting them from abuse and exploitation. It needs to limit the access of tech companies to our children, and not the other way around,” the European Commission document seen by Reuters said.

The proposed rules would cover social media, video-sharing platforms, AI chatbots and online gaming services, with requirements varying according to the service and user’s age.

Social media and video-sharing platforms would need to verify users’ ages when accounts are created, while gaming platforms would have to verify age before children can download games.

Companies would also be required to address addictive design features and harmful feeds, provide parental controls and offer simple ways for children to report harmful content. A supervisory fee would help fund enforcement.

The proposal could still change before its formal announcement. It would then require approval through the EU legislative process involving member states and the European Parliament before becoming law.