EU to propose ban on social media and AI chatbots for users under 15

The European Commission is preparing a legislative proposal that would restrict children under the age of 15 from accessing a range of digital services, including social‑media networks, video‑sharing platforms, artificial‑intelligence chatbots and online gaming sites. The measure is described as the most comprehensive effort to date to shield minors from perceived online risks.

The draft rules would apply to major services such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, Google’s YouTube and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, as well as to video‑gaming platforms. The aim is to limit exposure to content and interactions that could affect children’s health, safety and overall well‑being.

The initiative forms part of an “EU Kids Act” that the Commission intends to unveil in a joint presentation by President Ursula von der Leyen and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen on 17 September. President von der Leyen may also outline aspects of the plan in her State of the Union address scheduled for 16 September.

According to the proposal, access to digital services would be phased in gradually according to age, with different obligations imposed on providers depending on the type of service and the age group involved. Companies would be required to pay a supervisory fee intended to fund the regulators responsible for monitoring compliance and enforcing the new rules.

The Commission has declined to comment on the specifics of the draft. The proposal is expected to be discussed by EU legislators in the coming weeks, after which it could be adopted into law pending approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.