EU delays national social media rules for children to push bloc-wide approach

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - The European Commission has decided to postpone for 12 months draft national laws that overlap with its proposed EU-wide rules on children's access to social media, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

The decision aims to ensure consistent protection for minors across all EU member states through harmonized rules, Thomas Regnier told reporters in Brussels.

"We have a very clear proposal that we have put on the table, whereby we're introducing a gradual approach and safety by design obligations for all online services," he said, referring to the proposed European Union Kids Act.

He said the commission had decided to postpone for 12 months national draft legislation overlapping with the future EU-wide rules.

The move is intended to prevent different national age limits and regulatory requirements from creating a fragmented internal market, making it difficult for online platforms to comply with rules across the 27-member bloc, he added.

"Our proposal harmonizes the rules to make sure that all children across the EU receive equal levels of protection, because a European problem requires a united European response," Regnier said.

Asked whether the decision would also affect other member states that had notified the commission of their national legislation, Regnier said work on those laws was ongoing but would not change the commission's position against fragmentation.

He noted, however, that there were legal and procedural differences between national initiatives, citing France and Greece as examples.

According to Regnier, France and Greece had notified their legislation before the commission presented its own proposal, and the relevant standstill periods had already elapsed, distinguishing their cases from Austria's and subsequent notifications by other member states.

Last month, the commission proposed a gradual approach to restricting children's access to social media, including a ban for children under 13 and limited access for those under 15 under parental supervision.