The European Union is drafting the EU Kids Act, a legislative proposal aimed at mandating age verification for various online services. According to a report by Euractiv, the regulation will encompass social media platforms, artificial intelligence services, and video games.
The initiative is driven by concerns regarding the mental health of minors. The draft cites data indicating that children who begin using social media before age 10 spend an average of 7.5 hours on screens during weekends, compared to 5.7 hours for those starting after age 14.
The proposed legislation highlights risks associated with generative AI, including the creation of deepfakes and potentially harmful advice from chatbots. It also addresses the handling of personal data by major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The document argues that existing European regulatory frameworks are inadequate to mitigate these risks. Similar age verification requirements have already been implemented in parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
