Joint statement on potential new measures for child online safety in the European Union

A joint statement from more than 170 organisations and experts urging the European Commission to pursue safety-by-design regulation over blanket age-based social media bans, in response to proposed new measures on child online safety.

Rather than placing responsibility on children through blanket access restrictions, the signatories call for technology providers to make products safe and private by design and by default.

The statement highlights the limitations of age-based access restrictions and outlines how the EU’s digital rulebook could be strengthened to better protect children online. Recommendations include stronger enforcement of existing legislation, mandatory risk assessments and pre-certification for services used by children, age-appropriate design requirements, and safeguards across social media, gaming, AI systems and other digital services.