Madrid (EFE).- The European Commission has selected Spain for a pilot project aimed at developing a tool for age verification to shield minors from adult content available online, including pornography.
This confirmation comes from sources within the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, who noted that this selection follows a call issued by the Commission last October for member states to propose candidates for testing this application.
The goal is to create a European age verification tool that can be adapted by each country to fit its specific needs.
‘Digital Wallet Beta’
Spain will utilize its own tool, the ‘Digital Wallet Beta’ app, for this initiative, as its technical approach aligns with the Commission’s objectives, being based on the European Digital Identity Wallet.
Spain is at the forefront in developing an age verification app that allows for anonymous age verification while also offering additional services like university degree accreditation.
This initiative was highlighted in the Congress of Deputies by the Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, who underscored the significance of Spain being among the first three countries to implement this tool.
The issue of minors accessing harmful content is increasingly pressing, and Spain, in collaboration with France and Greece, is spearheading a proposal to establish a minimum age for accessing social networks and to mandate that all internet-enabled device manufacturers incorporate age verification and parental control mechanisms.
The digital wallet
Age verification is a key function of the upcoming European digital wallet, which all member states will be required to provide to their citizens starting in November 2026, as mandated by the European eIDAS2 regulation.
The European digital wallet will enable citizens to identify themselves to both public and private entities, especially when enhanced authentication is needed (such as banks and energy companies), without the necessity of sharing personal data as currently done with usernames and passwords.
With the European digital wallet, managing interactions with administrations or companies will become more streamlined, while also ensuring data sovereignty, as only the essential information required to access a service will be shared. (May 28)
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