Non-attached MEP Friedrich Pürner has challenged the European Commission's reliance on restrictions and bans for children's online safety, arguing that such measures can be counterproductive and urging a shift toward proactive, evidence-based design. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 16 April 2026, Pürner cited research indicating that bans and monitoring may weaken trust, limit children's rights, and drive digital activity to unregulated spaces. The question impacts EU regulatory bodies, national authorities, tech companies, and children and families.
Pürner's question, filed under Rule 144, asks the Commission three concrete points: whether it will adopt a proactive and systematic approach recognising children as active participants; whether it will align policy with evidence supporting rights, safety, and privacy by design as reflected in international legal instruments; and whether it will increase support for interdisciplinary research to better understand risks and opportunities in digital environments.
move from reactive control mechanisms to preventative guardrails that protect children while supporting their agency and well-being. He references a 2026 Science article by Cortesi and Gasser as evidence that restrictions can be ineffective.
As a written question, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the Commission is open to rethinking its current risk-framework approach and investing in design-based solutions, or whether it maintains its existing regulatory trajectory. The response will be closely watched by child safety advocates, digital rights groups, and tech industry stakeholders. No prior coverage exists on this specific file.
← Atlas › News › Digital & Communication