EU Parliament: Call for age control on the internet is hotly contested

The EU Parliament is currently holding a highly controversial debate on the introduction of an EU-wide age verification requirement on the internet. The reason for this is the draft report by chief negotiator Christel Schaldemose (Social Democrats) on the planned Digital Fairness Act. The Dane wants to improve the protection of minors online. She proposes, for example, to create a uniform, difficult to circumvent solution for age checks.

The idea has met with support, but also resistance. The proposal has already triggered hundreds of amendments from MEPs from all political groups. The positions are very different: CDU/CSU and other conservatives from the European People's Party (EPP) want the strictest rules. They are pushing for mandatory age checks on devices, in app stores, social networks and web services. They are even calling for mandatory identification of all users, which could jeopardize anonymity online.

The Social Democrats (S&D) are still divided. Some of its members support the idea of mandatory age checks, while others question the proportionality of such measures. The liberal Renew group is also calling for mandatory age verification, without sufficiently considering the potential risks of such instruments for the civil rights it otherwise upholds.

No clear line yet

Right-wing populists (Patriots for Europe and ECR) are also pushing for age verification, but attach conditions to their approval: The measures should not restrict freedom of expression, should not lead to surveillance, and should be decided at the national level. Ultimately, parents should have the say. Only the Green and Left parties are firmly opposed to mandatory age controls.

So far, no clear majority has emerged in favor of a universal, mandatory age check, but none against it either. The Schaldemose report could lead to this tool being anchored as an acceptable measure in the political discourse, despite its weaknesses: According to a study for elected representatives, age verification on the internet is necessary but not at all feasible in democracies.

What do civil rights activists and youth protectionists say?

At the same time, the EU Commission has published guidelines on the legal interpretation of Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The clause states that online platforms must "take measures to ensure a high level of privacy and security for minors". The Commission also considers an age verification app, which five member states are currently testing, to be a means of achieving this.

Critics fear that this approach will not address the actual, underlying problems of protecting minors. The civil rights organization European Digital Rights (EDRi) warns: "This overly narrow focus on age-restriction obscures the fact that systemic design decisions at platform level are the root cause of harm that affects children and adults alike."

The child protection organization ECPAT points out: "A child's right to online safety can never be guaranteed by implementing age-restriction technologies on selected websites or platforms." It would be better to adapt content for all age groups.

(vbr)