Global / Policy
EU chief von der Leyen to unveil curbs on social media and AI for under-15s
Europe tightens restrictions on tech access for minors ahead of frontier-model proliferation.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will announce legislation limiting under-15s' access to social media, video platforms, games and AI chatbots. The move represents Europe's latest regulatory effort to protect children from online harms.
Published · significance 63 of 100 (medium) · 1 source
What happened
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, will announce new EU legislation in her annual parliamentary speech to restrict under-15s' access to social media, video-sharing platforms, online games and AI chatbots. The draft legislation sets strict limits on these services for the under-15 age group, signalling a more aggressive stance on child protection online.
Why it matters
This move signals Europe's willingness to regulate major tech platforms and AI services at the source, affecting how companies like Meta, Google and AI chatbot providers operate in the bloc. It may accelerate similar child-protection regulations globally and force tech companies to implement age-verification systems or content filters for European users.
What changes
Tech companies offering social media, gaming, video and AI chatbot services in the EU will need to implement stricter access controls or age verification for users under 15, raising compliance costs and potentially fragmenting services across regions.
Involved
Sources
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