The Social Democratic Group in the European Parliament presented its six principles on the online age verification mechanism for minors on Thursday 20 November, a few days before the plenary vote on the own-initiative report on the subject, scheduled for Wednesday 26 November (see other news).
While quite open about the limits of the mechanism, the group is calling for age verification to be imposed where it is “strictly necessary”: for content prohibited to minors (pornography, gambling, alcohol, etc.), but also for access to “social networks, video-sharing platforms and AI companions”.
MEPs justify this request in terms of the very design of the platforms, which put profitability “before the well-being” of young users.
Without proposing a single technical solution - “it is not our ambition to find every possible solution”, explained Christel Schaldemose, the author of the INI report on the subject (see EUROPE 13730/16) - the group wants any verification mechanisms to “ensure the highest possible level of security and data protection”.
The group obviously takes up the central point of the INI report, i.e. a complete ban on under-13s and access with parental consent between the ages of 13 and 16. Member States would have the option of setting an intermediate age, depending on their own objectives (see EUROPE 13728/1).
The planned plenary vote on the report should go ahead without too many problems, with the rapporteur expressing optimism about the support of the House. However, Christel Schaldemose expressed her “disappointment” at the Commission’s attitude, particularly with regard to the promise made by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to set up a committee of experts on the issue (see EUROPE 13716/7).
The committee in question has still not seen the light of day, even though its guidelines were announced for the end of the year.
See the S&D policy paper: https://aeur.eu/f/jkz (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)