EU Commission Calls for Tighter Rules on Tech Platforms Treating Children as Commodities
The European Commission has called for stricter measures preventing major technology platforms from monetising children's data and attention, framing it as a child-protection priority for the coming digital rule book. Brussels said new guidance will accompany the Digital Services Act's enforcement against design choices targeting minors.
The European Commission has called on lawmakers and regulators to apply tighter measures preventing major technology platforms from monetising children's data and attention, framing the issue as a child-protection priority within the bloc's digital rule book. Officials cited evidence that engagement-driven design choices and targeted advertising have contributed to rising mental health concerns among young users in member states, the Anadolu Agency reported.
New guidance from Brussels is expected to accompany the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, which already obliges very large online platforms to assess and mitigate risks to minors. The Commission has signalled that age-appropriate design defaults, restrictions on persuasive design features such as infinite scroll, and stricter constraints on personalised advertising to under-18s will be at the centre of the new rules. Industry groups have warned the changes could raise compliance costs significantly.
The push comes as several European Union governments, led by France and Spain, advocate for outright restrictions on access to social media for the youngest age cohorts. The Commission will open a public consultation in the coming weeks, with formal guidance expected before the end of the year. National data-protection authorities are also stepping up investigations of recommender systems.
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