EU Seeks Feedback on Digital Services Act Guidelines for Child Protection
Brussels, Thursday, 15 August 2024.
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather input on upcoming guidelines for protecting minors online under the Digital Services Act. These guidelines will advise online platforms on implementing high levels of privacy, safety, and security for underage users. The initiative aims to harmonize child protection measures across EU member states and enhance online safety for young people.
Scope and Approach of the Guidelines
The Commission is particularly interested in feedback on the proposed scope and approach of the guidelines. This includes good practices and recommendations related to mitigation measures for the risks that minors may encounter online. Stakeholders, including scientific experts and researchers, are invited to participate by providing supporting reports and data. The goal is to ensure that the guidelines are grounded in comprehensive, evidence-based insights.
Stakeholder Participation
The call for evidence is open to all stakeholders, including but not limited to, online platforms, child protection organizations, and academic researchers. The Commission emphasizes the need for input on how platforms can make the rights and best interests of children a central consideration in their service design. This call to action is part of a broader effort to ensure that minors are safeguarded against potential risks and harms in the digital space.
Risk-Based Approach and Impact Assessments
Online platforms are encouraged to adopt a risk-based approach, which entails regularly carrying out impact assessments and implementing mitigation measures for any potential risks to minors. The guidelines will also discuss a harmonized approach to age verification, aiming for consistency across Member States. This is crucial for addressing the challenges posed by inadequate age-assurance mechanisms currently in place on many platforms.
Broader Applicability
With the exception of micro and small enterprises, the guidelines will apply to all online platforms that are accessible to minors. This includes platforms not specifically directed at minors but that have underage users due to insufficient age-verification systems. The comprehensive nature of these guidelines underscores the Commission’s commitment to creating a safer online environment for all minors, regardless of the platform they use.
Timeline and Next Steps
The call for evidence will remain open until 30 September 2024. Following this period, the Commission will use the feedback to draft the guidelines. A separate consultation on the draft guidelines is planned, with the aim of finalizing and adopting the guidelines before summer 2025. This timeline reflects the urgency and importance placed on enhancing online safety measures for minors in the EU.