EU to examine how major online platforms protect minors under the Digital Services Act
The investigation seeks to determine how these platforms protect children from exposure to illegal products such as drugs and vapes, as well as from harmful materials that may promote eating disorders or other risks to their mental health.
The European Commission has launched its first investigative actions under the Guidelines on the Protection of Minors established by the Digital Services Act (DSA). The inquiry targets four major platforms – Snapchat, YouTube, Apple’s App Store, and Google Play – requesting detailed information about their systems for age verification and their efforts to prevent minors from accessing illegal or harmful content.
The investigation seeks to determine how these platforms protect children from exposure to illegal products such as drugs and vapes, as well as from harmful materials that may promote eating disorders or other risks to their mental health.
According to Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s priority is to ensure the physical and mental well-being of young users. She underlined that platforms are legally required to safeguard minors through either the measures outlined in the EU’s guidelines or equally effective alternatives.
The Commission has specifically asked Snapchat to explain how it enforces its minimum age policy prohibiting access for users under 13 and to provide details on measures preventing the sale of illegal goods to minors. YouTube has been asked to clarify how its age-assurance and recommender systems work, particularly in light of reports suggesting harmful content is being circulated to young audiences.
For Apple’s App Store and Google Play, the Commission is examining how they mitigate risks related to the availability of illegal or harmful applications, including gambling apps and so-called “nudify apps” that create non-consensual sexualised images. The inquiry also covers how both companies apply and enforce age ratings for apps.
In parallel, the Commission is cooperating with national authorities to identify other platforms that may pose significant risks to minors. These steps are part of broader efforts to ensure consistent enforcement of the DSA across the EU and to strengthen protections for children online.
