The European Commission is urging EU countries toaccelerate the rollout of the EU age verification app, aiming to make it available to citizens by theend of 2026.

TheEuropean age verification app, designed to better protect children online, is now ready for deployment in EU countries. It will allow users to prove their age without sharing unnecessary personal data and to browse the internet in full privacy, while ensuring that children cannot access inappropriate content.

EU countries can roll it out as a standalone app or integrate it intoEuropean Digital Identity Wallets. To ensure its swift availability and interoperability, the Commission recommends that countries

Additionally, the Commission will set up an EU age verification scheme.The scheme sets out criteria for providers of proof of age services and for developers of age verification solutions. Based on these criteria, the Commission will publish a list of providers that meet privacy and security standards.

The protection and empowerment of children and teens online is a key priority of the Commission. Age verification is one element of a broader framework that includes theDigital Services Act (DSA), theaction plan against cyberbullying, thebetter internet for kids strategy, and others. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also set up aspecial panel of expertsto help develop a strong and practical European approach to child safety online.

Under the DSA, online platforms must ensure a high level of privacy, security, and safety for minors online. Recently, the Commissionpreliminarily found Meta in breach of these rulesfor failing to prevent minors under thirteen from using Instagram and Facebook.

Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen

Q&A: EU age verification solution

The EU approach to age verification