EU Kids Act Draft Reveals Age-Tiered Access and Mandatory Verification for Tech Platforms

Key points

• The EU Kids Act will require age verification for new accounts on social media, video-sharing, online gaming, and AI companion services.
• Children under 15 are barred from autonomous accounts; those 13-15 may have introductory accounts with parental controls, while those under 13 require fully parent-controlled access on child-friendly platforms.
• Tech companies must pay a 'supervisory fee' to cover the European Commission's enforcement costs for the new legislation.
• The legislation excludes services for education, public authorities, and industrial or office AI applications.
• Platforms must adhere to 'safe by design' criteria, prohibiting addictive features such as infinite scrolling and regulating recommender algorithms.

Background

This development follows earlier EU discussions on digital child safety, including the August 2026 proposal for age-tiered social media rules. It also aligns with ongoing enforcement actions under the Digital Services Act, where the Commission has issued preliminary findings against Meta and TikTok for addictive design features. France has recently notified the Commission of a revised national law targeting specific platform features, seeking to align with potential EU-wide standards.

How outlets are covering it

Euractiv emphasizes the financial burden on tech companies through the new supervisory fee and the broad scope of services covered, including AI chatbots. Reuters highlights the 'sweeping' nature of the ban and the global concerns regarding platforms like Meta and TikTok. TechTimes focuses on the privacy implications of mandatory age verification, noting that while France has shifted from a blanket ban to a feature-based restriction, the requirement for adults to prove their age remains a significant privacy risk, citing past data breaches by verification firms. The Commission’s draft seeks a balance between protecting minors and allowing access to digital services, but critics worry about the feasibility and privacy costs of universal age verification.

Why it matters

The EU Kids Act represents a major shift in digital regulation, potentially setting a global precedent for age-based access restrictions. It could significantly impact the business models of major tech companies by imposing new compliance costs and design constraints. The mandatory age verification requirement raises critical privacy concerns, as it may force users to share sensitive identity data with third-party verification providers, potentially exposing them to data breaches. The legislation also signals a move toward regulating 'addictive' design features, which could reshape how platforms engage with users of all ages.

What to watch

The European Commission is expected to formally present the EU Kids Act proposal on Thursday. Following the announcement, the Commission will need to negotiate the draft with EU member states and the European Parliament before it can become law. France’s recent notification of its revised social media law to the Commission may influence the final shape of the EU-wide legislation, particularly regarding the age threshold and the specific features targeted. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the timeline and scope of the new regulations across the EU.