The European Commission is reportedly planning to introduce the EU Kids Act, a legislative proposal that could require online games to implement stricter age verification measures for younger players. The act aims to establish a tiered system for account creation for individuals under the age of 15, potentially mirroring aspects of the UK's Online Safety Act.
According to reports from Politico and Reuters, documents detailing the proposed act indicate it would apply to social media, video sharing platforms, AI chatbots, and online games. This expansion to include games and AI appears to be a recent push, with The Netherlands and Spain reportedly advocating for their inclusion.
Under the proposed rules, children under 13 would only be permitted accounts on services meeting stringent safety standards, with parental or guardian control. Those between 13 and 15 would require an introductory account managed with parental controls, including restrictions on communication and screen time. Only individuals aged 15 and above would be able to create their own accounts without these limitations. Access for children under three would be entirely prohibited.
The legislation would likely necessitate age verification methods such as credit card ownership, official identification, or facial age estimation. Such measures have drawn criticism regarding data protection and user anonymity.
The Commission stated that the Union's aim is to allow minors to benefit from digital services while protecting them from abuse and exploitation, adding, "It needs to limit the access of tech companies to our children, and not the other way around." Enforcement of the new rules would be funded through supervisory fees levied on companies.
It is important to note that the EU Kids Act is currently a proposal and subject to debate and potential modifications by European governments and the European Parliament. Definitional clarity on what constitutes a 'high-risk' service for minors is expected to be a point of discussion.