Brussels has drafted a sweeping plan that would bar toddlers from major online platforms entirely and force parents to act as gatekeepers for children up to age 14, according to a leaked legislative blueprint.
The proposed “EU Kids Act” marks the bloc’s most aggressive attempt yet to reshape how minors interact with the internet. It comes as individual member states race ahead with their own restrictions, creating a patchwork of rules that Brussels now wants to unify under a single framework.
The draft establishes four age bands with escalating levels of access. Children under three would face a complete prohibition on covered services. Those aged three to 12 could only use curated environments under continuous parental supervision. Teens aged 13 and 14 would gain limited accounts, but only if a parent initiates the process, with strict caps on algorithmic content and network contacts.
Unlike earlier national measures aimed mostly at social feeds, this framework explicitly targets generative AI and downloadable games. Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT all appear in the document as services subject to the new rules. Platforms would need to verify user age at account creation using robust digital identification, while game distributors must check ages before allowing downloads.
Tech firms would also face bans on infinite scroll, auto-play, and variable reward notifications for minor-facing interfaces. They would need to build interoperable parental controls and pay a supervisory fee to fund EU enforcement.
The proposal arrives amid sharp institutional friction. France has already banned under-15s from social platforms, while Spain pushes for an under-16 prohibition. Yet the Commission’s own advisory panel recommended 13 as the baseline in July, exposing deep disagreement over digital maturity.
Privacy advocates warn that mandatory verification could demand biometric data or government ID, creating security risks and eroding anonymity.
For industry, compliance would require rebuilding onboarding systems across the single market. Smaller European developers could bear disproportionate costs for third-party verification integrations.
The text remains under internal review and will face intense parliamentary negotiation once formally introduced. If enacted, it would replace universal access with a stratified digital environment defined by Brussels and enforced by parents.
