The Commission can likewise disclose details about the execution of the said program.
The European Commission has taken a significant step towards safeguarding the online safety of young users with the unveiling of an age verification app prototype. This innovative software solution is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA) guidelines for protecting minors online, aiming to give young users more control over what they see and encourage platforms to prioritize explicit user feedback.
The development of the age verification concept was a comprehensive process, involving investigations, workshops with stakeholders, expert involvement, and a targeted public consultation. The goal is to ensure a high level of privacy and security for children on online platforms while proactively addressing risks from harmful or age-inappropriate content.
The age verification app, set to be tested during a pilot phase, is designed to enable users to prove they are over 18 without revealing other personal information like exact age or identity. It will be user-friendly, protect privacy, and set new standards for age assessment online.
Five EU member countries β Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy β will be the first to use the technical solution, but it will serve as a "blueprint" for other EU member states. The member countries involved in the pilot phase of the age verification app prototype to test age checks for digital services are France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
The guidelines on the protection of minors outline when and how online platforms should verify the age of their users. They suggest disabling features that encourage excessive use of online services for minors, giving minors the ability to block or mute users to prevent cyberbullying, and banning the downloading or taking screenshots of content posted by minors to prevent the dissemination of sexualized or intimate content.
The age verification app can be integrated into a national app or used as a standalone app. It also serves as the foundation for a future broader introduction of age-appropriate services. Moreover, the age verification concept is based on the same technical specifications as the European digital identity wallet, which is set to be introduced by the end of 2026.
The app aims to prioritise privacy, accuracy, reliability, robustness, unobtrusiveness, and non-discrimination in age assessment methods. It is expected to play a crucial role in creating a safer digital environment for young users across the European Union.
