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EU proposes KIDS Act: bans under-13s from social media, restricts AI chatbots for minors
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The European Union is proposing a major regulatory reset for children's internet use under the planned KIDS Act. The legislation would bar children under 13 from social media, require parent-controlled accounts for 13-14-year-olds, restrict addictive features and personalized ads, and mandate that AI companions and chatbots be off by default for minors. The post notes that while protecting children is sensible, a key question is whether age can be verified effectively without creating new privacy and identity-data risks. The EU plans to use independent age-verification tools designed to confirm age without revealing identity to platforms, aiming to balance child safety with data privacy.
Source report
Europe is proposing a significant reset in how children interact with the internet. The planned EU KIDS Act introduces a series of age-based restrictions and protections for minors online.
Key Provisions of the KIDS Act
- Under-13s: Barred from social media entirely
- Ages 13–14: Would require parent-controlled accounts
- All minors: Addictive features and personalized ads would face restrictions
- AI companions/chatbots: Would be turned off by default for minors
Balancing Safety and Privacy
While protecting children is a clear priority, the proposal raises an important question: can age be verified effectively without creating new privacy and identity-data risks?
The EU plans to address this through independent age-verification tools designed to confirm a user's age without revealing their identity to platforms.
The Core Challenge
As the EU moves forward, the goal is to ensure that #ChildSafety and #DataPrivacy work together.
Source: Original post
Source
bamitavNeutral / independent
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EU proposes KIDS Act banning under-13s from social media, requiring parent-controlled teen accounts