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EU plans fines of up to 6% for platforms violating child protection rules

The European Union plans to bar children under 13 from using social media, impose restrictions on minors’ accounts and introduce age-verification rules. Companies that violate the rules could face fines of up to 6% of their annual revenue.

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EU plans fines of up to 6% for platforms violating child protection rules

The European Union plans to introduce unified rules to protect minors online, under which companies in breach could face fines of up to 6% of their annual revenue, according to a plan announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The plan covers social media platforms, technology services and artificial intelligence.

Restrictions on minors’ accounts

The plan would bar children under 13 from using social media and prevent those under 15 from creating personal accounts. Children aged 13 and 14 would be able to use some platforms through parent-supervised accounts with limited features.

Age-verification rules

Von der Leyen’s remarks come ahead of the presentation of a new European Union proposal that is expected to impose strict rules for verifying users’ ages on social media platforms, app stores and online games, as part of unified European legislation to protect minors online.

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