Ensuring a secure digital environment for children was emphasized by Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, in an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) in Brussels, which focused on online child protection.
The European Commission has targeted major adult websites, revealing initial findings that Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos are violating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Following proceedings initiated in May of last year, Brussels has concluded that these platforms are not adequately protecting minors from explicit materials, citing particularly ineffective age verification systems that leave underage users vulnerable.
The Commission is also investigating Snapchat to assess its compliance with the DSA, prompted by worries regarding potential risks for minors on the app, such as grooming and the illegal distribution of drugs, vapes, and alcohol.
Journalists from partner agencies of the European Newsroom, including ANSA (Italy), CTK (Czech Republic), dpa (Germany), EFE (Spain), TT (Sweden), and others, were granted an exclusive opportunity to directly question Virkkunen about her latest communications on child safety and online platform regulation under the DSA.
Additionally, reporters inquired about the EU’s age verification application, currently in the testing phase, as well as broader topics like addictive platform designs, the obligation of social media firms to protect minors, and the proposed “chat control” measures that have sparked considerable privacy debates throughout Europe.
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