EU Kids Act draft would require age checks for games, AI and social platforms

The EU is preparing legislation that would require online age verification before users can access certain digital services, according to a Euractiv report citing a draft of the EU Kids Act. The proposal follows similar measures in parts of the US, the UK and Australia, and would apply broadly across AI services, social media and video games.

The draft frames the requirements as a response to mental health concerns affecting children and adolescents. It cites data showing that children who started using social media before the age of 10 “report 7.5 hours of weekend day screen time, compared to 5.7 hours among those who started after age 14,” alongside concerns over social pressure, isolation, concentration and learning issues, and distressing online content.

The legislation also points to risks tied to generative AI, including AI-generated deepfakes and dangerous advice from chatbots. It raises concerns about personal data misuse by platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, as well as related AI services, and argues that existing EU rules are not sufficient to protect users from these harms.