The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, reported this Wednesday that a new age verification app is found “technically ready” and assured that will be available soon for the 27 countries of the bloc.
The German politician warned that Brussels will have “zero tolerance“with the digital platforms that “do not protect the rights“of minors on the internet. “We are demanding responsibilities to internet platforms that do not sufficiently protect our children,” Von der Leyen said at a press conference.
Below is an explanation of what this system is and how it works.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Photo:AFP
What is the age verification ‘app’?
The age verification app is a digital tool to confirm that users are of legal age when accessing social networks and digital platforms. Its objective is to protect minors without revealing personal data, using anonymous ‘tokens’ that only certify whether the person is an adult or not.
As they explain, the application will allow users to prove that they are over 18 years old when accessing restricted adult contentsuch as pornography, without revealing any personal information, not even your exact age.
Also, technically it will be possible to extend the age limit or apply it to other use cases, such as access to a social network or the purchase of alcohol. Member States may decide to do so when they adapt it to the national context, or at a later stage.
When introduced to online service providers, the proof of age only informs that the user is over 18 years old, not who the user is or any other personal information like the exact age.
What are you looking for?
In a statement, the European Commission argues that age verification “will help protect minors of being exposed to inappropriate online content for age and potentially harmful.”
Platforms must verify the age of users. Photo:ISTOCK
How will it work?
- The user download the application on your mobile device.
- HE upload proof of age to the system what can it be physical or digital identity documentspassports, previously installed applications that contain age information such as bank ‘apps’, or third-party activation such as the post office.
- After receiving proof of age, no other information is exchanged.
- The user requests access to an online service
- The online service requests anonymous proof of age to the user.
- The user submits proof of age to the online service.
- The online service verifies the validity of the test without accessing other data of the user.
- If the information is valid, opens access to the service.
Indonesia began to apply social media blocking to children under 16 years of age. Photo:EFE
When will it come into effect?
HE unknown exact date. The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, clarified that it will be “coming soon“. Two drafts of this app were introduced in countries in June and October 2025and some like Denmark, France, Greece, Italy or Spain were the first to customize them in their national contexts.
Why does this ‘app’ arise?
The ‘app’ arises in a context of increasing measures by countries around the world, including Australia and Indonesia, which imposed laws that prohibit the access of minors to social networks (like TikTok, Facebook or Instagram). This in defense of the dangers of networks for mental health of the young people who have come to light in recent years and who, with recent judicial decisions such as the one in the United States that found Meta and YouTube guilty of addiction in minorsbegan to put the magnifying glass on the internet and the great platform giants.
Which countries have made progress in policies restricting access to minors?
In Europe there are five countries who work for ban access to social networks -without parental control- to the under 15 years old (France, Italy, Denmark and Greece) or 16 years (Spain).
Australia banned the access of minors under 16 years of age to social networks. Photo:AFP
What will happen once the mobile application comes into force?
Once it is fully operational, users will be able to download the application on their mobile devices and register in the system, uploading their identity card.
“The age verification solution is designed to meet the highest privacy standards. Avoid identity tracking. The user’s identity only checked once during the issuance of the proof of age. The age test itself does not contain any identity data”argues the European Commission.
Australia banned the access of minors under 16 years of age to social networks. Photo:AFP
Will they have access to my data?
Von der Leyen assured that the tool completely respects privacy of users, in such a way that when they use the app to open an account on social networks and browse the Internet, the companies They will not know the name or the exact age of Internet users, but simply if they have the years allowed to access its services.
Citizens will maintain “the full control of your data“said the president of the Commission.
Now, “digital platforms can easily trust our age verification app. There are no more excuses,” Von der Leyen continued.
Will it be mandatory?
No, it will not be mandatorybut rather it is a tool that Brussels makes available to platforms to comply with the digital services lawwhich forces them to protect minors in particular.
The community Executive hopes that the twenty-seven countries of the bloc and platforms use this application to achieve harmonized use throughout the EUalthough the technology companies may end up using their own age verification systems.
What warnings are there?
In a statement, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) senior policy director Ash Johnson noted that while the next age verification app of the European Commission represents “a innovative approach for online age verification”, is also “a worrying sign of what is to come.”
Should minors be prohibited from accessing social networks in Colombia? Photo:iStock
“Given that several European countries are already implementing social media bans for minorsthe Commission’s age verification app looks set to lay the groundwork for a ban at EU level“says Johnson, who recognizes that although protect minors online is an important objective, excessively restrictive measureslike the prohibitions, “undermine the rights of young people to access information and participate in digital spaces.”
“In addition, by promoting a open source solutionthe EU invites other governments to adopt its approach, which could serve as a vehicle for export excessively restrictive rules to other countries, amplifying the Brussels effect”, he warns.
