Meta offers EU Commission online teen protection proposal

US tech giant Meta on Tuesday has proposed a harmonised age verification and safety standard system for apps and online services to the European Commission to protect teenagers across the EU.

This proposal includes age-verification and parental approval of app downloads those aged below 16. If an underaged child wants to download an app, app stores would be required to notify their parents under Meta's proposal. Parents would then determine whether to approve the download. 

The company also wants EU-wide industry standards for age-appropriate experiences for teens. 

“Alignment across industry on the types of content companies should consider age appropriate, as there is for other media like movies and video games. Further, certain apps, including social media apps, should offer supervision tools for teens under-16 that parents can activate and control,” the statement said.

The call comes as Incoming Commissioner responsible for technology, Henna Virkkunen, has labelled protecting minors "a top priority". 

Youth safety online is also in part the responsibility of Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath.  

"European regulation on youth safety is too fragmented," Antigone Davis, Meta's global head of safety, said in a blogpost. 

“That’s why we urgently need new EU-wide regulation that provides consistent protections for teens online, requiring app stores to verify teens' age and get parents’ approval when teens under 16 download an app,” she added.

The 27 EU member states are currently free to set their own rules for age verification and there are no EU standards, although some of the EU rules foresee improved age verification to protect minors including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD).

The proposed Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) regulation, currently under debate in the Council of the EU, also relies heavily on identifying minors online to shield them from predators.