EU age verification app to launch in July

The European Union is preparing to launch a new age verification app in July, according to a report in the Financial Times (£). The move is intended to enhance the protection of minors online and facilitate stricter enforcement of EU regulations. The app will serve as a precursor to the EU digital identity wallet, which is expected to be launched in 2026. A key feature of the upcoming app is its ability to allow users to verify their age without directly disclosing personal information to online platforms.

While the EU has not mandated a universal age verification requirement across all online platforms, it has imposed legal obligations on sites that cater to minors or handle pornographic or harmful content. The introduction of this new age-verification app could empower the EU to adopt a more stringent enforcement approach with platforms perceived as not adequately assessing and managing risks to children.

Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, stressed the protection of children as a high priority, expecting greater effort from social media giants. As such, Virkkunen urged technology companies to proactively implement robust measures to safeguard children rather than waiting for governmental intervention that might lead to a patchwork of differing global regulations. Furthermore, Virkkunen advocated for platforms to adopt a "design with a very high level of security, privacy and safety for minors" and for the EU to take additional steps to ensure children's accounts are private by default, thereby reducing unwanted contact from strangers and curbing addictive platform designs.

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