The European Union officially classifies ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine, subjecting OpenAI to stringent Digital Services Act regulations.
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France will ban social media for children under 15, requiring nationwide age checks and raising privacy and platform compliance concerns.
The post France Bans Social Media for Under-15s, Requires Age Checks appeared first on TechRepublic.
The European Commission is moving closer to introducing new measures on Child Safety Online after President Ursula von der Leyen received recommendations from a Special Panel examining the impact of social media on children. The report, released Monday, calls for stronger safeguards, greater platform accountability, and age-appropriate restrictions as the EU prepares to review the findings and present legislative proposals after the summer.
Speaking alongside the panel's co-chairs, von der Leyen said protecting children online has become one of the most pressing challenges facing governments. She stressed that parents, not algorithms, should shape children's development and warned that the current digital environment is exposing young users to growing risks.
Von der Leyen said the Special Panel examined both the opportunities and harms created by social media algorithms and their effects on children. According to the findings highlighted in her statement, young people across Europe now spend between four and six hours each day on screens, while nearly 60% of young children have experienced emotional or psychosocial problems online.
She said these challenges include loss of sleep, anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and unwanted online interactions, all occurring while children's brains are still developing.
"We believe that parents bring up our kids, and not predatory algorithms," von der Leyen said, adding that social media platforms should no longer have unrestricted access to children.
A key recommendation focuses on holding technology companies accountable for the safety of their services. Von der Leyen said platforms that build online systems should also be responsible for ensuring they do not harm users, particularly children.
She pointed to the Digital Services Act (DSA) as the EU's framework for requiring providers to remove harmful features, including addictive algorithms, dark patterns, harmful content, and unwanted contacts.
According to the Commission President, the EU has already taken action under the Digital Services Act against TikTok over its addictive design and recently against Meta. She said platforms have a duty of care toward users and must respond quickly when children report harmful experiences.
The report also strengthens the case for introducing social media age restrictions, with von der Leyen arguing that the debate is no longer about whether children use social media but when platforms should be allowed to reach them.
She said the European Union's age verification app is designed to help parents by providing an easy-to-use, privacy-preserving, and open-source tool to verify age before accessing online platforms.
Von der Leyen also suggested that Europe should consider establishing a "social media start date," comparing it to existing age limits for driving and purchasing alcohol.
According to the statement, children under the age of three should have no exposure to screens or digital platforms. Older children should only access social media under parental, caregiver, or teacher supervision and within limited time periods.
Von der Leyen said childhood is a critical stage of brain development and argued that children need opportunities to play, build real-world friendships, and develop their identities before algorithms begin shaping their online experiences.
She added that policymakers should first identify platforms with age-inappropriate and addictive features, describing the category as "social media plus," before considering phased access for different age groups.
The European Commission said the report comes after consultations with parents, educators, experts, young people, EU member states, and international partners, including Australia.
Von der Leyen confirmed that the Commission will now review the recommendations before presenting a formal proposal after the summer.
While no legislative measures have yet been announced, the report signals the EU's intent to strengthen Child Safety Online protections by expanding platform accountability, improving age verification, and evaluating new rules governing children's access to social media.
The Chat Control 1.0 framework has been revived after the European Parliament voted to restore the legal basis that allows major technology companies to voluntarily scan users' private communications for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The decision, taken on July 9, comes months after the temporary regulation expired in April and has reignited debate over privacy, surveillance, and the future of online safety laws in the European Union.
The vote was held on the final sitting day before the Parliament's summer recess. Under an urgent legislative procedure, rejecting the proposal required an absolute majority of all Members of the European Parliament rather than a simple majority of those present. As a result, the proposal passed despite more lawmakers present voting against it than in favor.
The revived regulation, formally known as Regulation (EU) 2021/1232, provides the legal basis for online platforms to voluntarily scan private communications for known and new Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as well as the solicitation of children.
The original regulation was introduced in 2021 as a temporary derogation from the ePrivacy Directive. It expired in April after lawmakers failed to agree on a long-term replacement amid widespread concerns over user privacy.
Although several technology companies continued voluntary scanning after the regulation lapsed, European authorities had warned that doing so without a legal basis could expose platforms to legal uncertainty. The restored framework does not authorize scanning on end-to-end encrypted messaging services such as Signal.
The renewed proposal followed an urgent legislative process that critics described as highly unusual. According to CDT Europe, the Parliament had previously rejected a similar proposal in March, but the issue returned through a fast-tracked second-reading procedure supported by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Because the proposal was treated as a second reading, opponents needed at least 361 votes to block it. While a simple majority supported rejecting the measure during voting, it did not reach the higher threshold required under the urgent procedure. Reduced attendance before the summer recess also affected the outcome.
Only two amendments were adopted during the process, both aimed at preserving protections for end-to-end encryption.
The revival of Chat Control 1.0 comes shortly after negotiations on the proposed Child Sexual Abuse Material Regulation (CSAR) ended without agreement on June 29. Discussions on the permanent framework are expected to resume after the summer break.
CDT Europe argued that restoring the temporary regulation could complicate ongoing negotiations over the long-term legislative framework. The organization said questions surrounding voluntary or mandatory scanning require careful legal and technical assessment before permanent rules are introduced.
Supporters of the urgent procedure argued that allowing the temporary regulation to expire would create an immediate regulatory gap for online platforms investigating child sexual abuse content.
However, CDT Europe challenged that justification, pointing to statements from the German Federal Police, which reportedly acknowledged there was no direct connection between the expiration of the temporary regulation and the number of CSAM reports received.
The organization also noted that several legal mechanisms remain available even without the temporary derogation. These include targeted telecommunications surveillance with judicial authorization, electronic evidence preservation under the EU's e-evidence framework, existing content removal and reporting processes under the Digital Services Act, and hash-matching technology that identifies previously verified CSAM for human review.
Following the vote, CDT Europe said it opposed both the outcome and the legislative process used to restore the regulation. The organization stated it would continue advocating for a future Child Sexual Abuse Material Regulation (CSAR) that rejects indiscriminate mass scanning while protecting end-to-end encryption and fundamental rights.
The renewed Chat Control 1.0 regulation restores the legal framework for voluntary scanning by online platforms, but the broader debate over balancing child protection, privacy, and digital rights in the European Union remains unresolved.
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