European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen announced on 29 April 2026 that the European Age Verification Solution is now technically ready for Member States to customise and roll out, following the finalisation of technical work. In parallel, the Commission has preliminarily found Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing their services.
Virkkunen, speaking on the protection of minors online, said the age verification solution will ensure that everyone has the same online access dependent on national rules, while preserving privacy and preventing children from accessing age-inappropriate content. The Commission has adopted a Recommendation urging Member States to accelerate the adoption of such tools. An Age Verification Scheme will set criteria for providers of proof-of-age and verification solutions, with the Commission assessing and publishing lists of compliant providers. Virkkunen will discuss the recommendations with Member States at the informal Telecom Council in Cyprus on 30 April.
On DSA enforcement, the Commission's preliminary findings indicate that Meta is doing very little to prevent children under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook, despite its own terms prohibiting such access. Around 12% of EU children under 13 use these platforms, and the Commission found that minors can easily bypass age restrictions by entering a false birth date, with no effective controls in place. The reporting tool for under-13 users is also difficult to use and often lacks follow-up, allowing reported minors to continue using the service. These preliminary findings could lead to formal proceedings and potential fines if confirmed.
The announcement builds on existing EU efforts, including the DSA, the Action Plan against Cyberbullying, and the Better Internet for Kids strategy. Virkkunen framed the age verification solution as a complementary piece to DSA enforcement, aiming to create a safer online environment for minors across the EU.
The age verification solution and DSA enforcement represent a push for stronger EU-level regulation of online platforms to protect minors, increasing the burden on tech companies to implement robust age checks. This creates a cleavage between child safety and privacy advocates on one side, and platform operators concerned about compliance costs and user friction on the other. The preliminary findings against Meta signal a more assertive enforcement stance by the Commission, potentially leading to significant fines. For EU consumers, especially parents, the measures promise enhanced protection for children, but may also introduce additional verification steps for all users. For tech companies, particularly social media platforms, the new requirements could increase operational costs and reduce user engagement among younger demographics. National authorities will need to implement and oversee the age verification schemes, adding administrative responsibilities. The impact is moderate to major, depending on the final scope of enforcement and adoption by Member States.