The European Commission has released a new online age verification app to help protect minors from harmful content on the internet. This application is designed to work seamlessly with ID cards or passports and maintains user anonymity. Available for free, the app is open source and can be utilized by any company that adheres to European privacy regulations.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced that the app aims to provide a common solution for age verification problems across the EU. The app functions on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Users set it up by creating a PIN or using biometric access, verifying their age without the app storing personal information like names or birthdates.
When users want to access age-restricted content, they can either scan a QR code displayed on the site or use the app directly. While the groundwork for this technology is complete, and it prevents minors from accessing inappropriate material, the potential for loopholes remains—adults could theoretically lend their devices to minors.
To ensure the app’s effectiveness, online platforms will be required to implement age verification, guided by the Digital Services Act (DSA). This legislation mandates that major online platforms with over 45 million monthly users in the EU take measures to protect children online, with penalties for noncompliance. The DSA aims to hold these platforms accountable.
European countries have been discussing age verification for some time. Italy and France are among the nations considering regulations around social media usage for minors, with France potentially banning social media for those under 15. The effectiveness of such measures will depend on the successful integration of age verification systems like the newly launched app.
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