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European Laws to Shield Children from Harmful Online Content

European Laws to Shield Children from Harmful Online Content

Author: admin | 17 Jun 2025

Starting from July, Europe will introduce powerful new legal protections to prevent children from accessing harmful digital content. The first online safety code in Ireland, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, will take effect. It is enforcing strict age and identity verification measures to block access to explicit material like pornography and violent media.

European Commissioner of Justice Michael McGrath declared that the Digital Fairness Act will help in dealing with exploitative online features like loot boxes and dark patterns. These mechanics, widely seen in games and ads, manipulate young users into impulsive purchases and extended screen time.

McGrath called for more accountability from tech firms. “Adolescence is a critical period,” he said, warning that influencers often promote inappropriate content to children without transparency. He cited cases like TikTok influencers pushing weight loss products to teens without disclosing sponsorships.

Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, will enforce the Online Safety Code, aligned with the EU’s Digital Services Act. The code mandates that platforms introduce secure, privacy-focused age verification systems, such as passport-based checks. Noncompliance could result in fines of €20 million or 10% of the company’s turnover.

Tech giants, including Meta, TikTok, Google, LinkedIn, and X, are expected to meet with Ireland’s media minister, who will warn that the “Wild West” era of unchecked platforms is over.

Facia helps platforms comply with EU rules by verifying real users’ ages through passive liveness detection and facial biometrics, without storing sensitive documents or requiring manual checks.