Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 23 June 2026, signalled a move away from purely restrictive measures towards a proactive, evidence-based approach to children's online safety, a shift that could reshape regulatory obligations for digital platforms and empower youth participation. The answer responds to a question from MEP Friedrich Pürner (NI), who had criticised the EU's reliance on bans and monitoring as potentially counterproductive.
Virkkunen highlighted the establishment of a Special Panel on child safety online, which includes youth representatives and experts from health, neuroscience, technology and child rights. The panel, which has held two meetings, is tasked with drawing up recommendations to the Commission President by July 2026, assessing risks and opportunities for minors in digital environments and how to strengthen existing rules.
The answer does not commit to specific new legislative proposals but points to the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, which aims to strengthen consumer protection online with a focus on minors, and the existing Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires platforms accessible to minors to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security. The Better Internet for Kids strategy also supports safer digital environments with youth involvement. The Commission's approach appears to be one of consolidating and refining existing tools rather than introducing sweeping bans, a direction that balances child protection with digital rights and industry concerns.
The Special Panel's recommendations, due in July, will be a key indicator of future policy direction.