The European Union has initiated a pilot program for an age verification application in Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy. This initiative aims to assist online platforms in adhering to regulations designed to safeguard minors. The prototype of the application was revealed on Monday along with recommendations for online platforms to follow in alignment with the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
Henna Virkkunen, an EU technology policy leader, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of children and young people online. “The new age verification blueprint, alongside guidelines for the protection of minors, represents significant progress in that direction. There should be no justification for platforms continuing practices that jeopardize child safety,” she stated.
This age verification tool enables users to confirm their age when accessing restricted adult content, supporting efforts to hold platforms accountable for non-compliance with the DSA. It allows companies to utilize the EU’s verification framework rather than creating standalone systems. The European Commission assures that users will maintain full control over their personal data, including age and identity, while keeping their online activity confidential.
The prototype is set to undergo testing and further modification in partnership with member states, online platforms, and end-users. Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy are working towards launching their own national age verification applications. This tool is intended as a temporary measure, with the more comprehensive EU Digital Identity Wallet anticipated to debut in 2026. This initiative is expected to allow Europeans to verify their identities when accessing digital services and to securely manage important online documents.
Although the DSA does not outline specific age verification requirements, it mandates that websites and platforms must protect the health and development of minors using their services while ensuring high levels of privacy, safety, and security. The guidance encourages platforms to mitigate issues related to harmful content exposure, cyberbullying, unwanted interactions, and addictive design features.
In May, the EU began investigations into four major adult content websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—due to concerns about their insufficient age verification measures to keep minors from accessing inappropriate material. At that time, the Commission expressed a willingness to consider commitments from these platforms to address these issues, which could include the adoption of the EU’s age verification app.
