The European Commission has opened its first investigations following its previous publication of Guidelines on Protection of Minors under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The Commission has now requested that Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google provide information about their age verification systems, as well as how they prevent minors from accessing content on illegal products, including drugs or vapes, or harmful material such as content promoting eating disorders.
The Commission is also requesting information from Snapchat about how it prevents children under 13 from accessing its services in addition to information on its features to prevent the sale of illegal goods to children.
In addition, it is requesting that YouTube provides information on its age assurance system and is seeking more details on its recommender system, following reports of harmful content being recommended to minors.
In relation to the Apple App Store and Google Play, the Commission is seeking information on how they manage the risk of users being able to download illegal or otherwise harmful apps, including gambling apps and tools to create non-consensual sexualised content as well as seeking to understand how these app stores apply apps’ age ratings.
The European Board for Digital Services’ Working Group for the protection of minors is also taking action to ensure compliance with the DSA, including identifying platforms which pose the greatest risk for children and checking compliance with the required high level of child safety under the DSA.
The Commission has also published an updated blueprint for an EU age verification solution, introducing use of passports and identity cards as onboarding methods.
