Observed Signal · Sep 17, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: Retail-News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Bitkom warns EU Kids Act adds bureaucracy
The German digital association Bitkom has responded to the European Commission's announcement of the EU Kids Act, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing child and youth protection on digital platforms. The Act, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, proposes staggered age limits for social media use, stricter safety requirements for minors, and additional obligations for platform operators. While Bitkom welcomes the goal of improving online safety, it warns against rigid age limits and a parallel regulatory structure that would add bureaucratic burdens on top of the existing Digital Services Act (DSA). Bitkom advocates for a risk-based approach, aligning protective measures with the actual risk of each digital service. It also highlights the technical challenges of reliable and privacy-friendly age verification, suggesting that age estimation methods be allowed alongside direct verification. The association calls for integrating new youth protection measures into the existing DSA framework rather than creating separate regulations.
EU Kids Act is a significant policy initiative affecting digital platforms and advertising to minors, but it is not yet finalized and may not be directly AdTech-focused.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- EU Kids Act proposes banning social media for under-13s and restricted accounts for 13-15-year-olds.
- Bitkom warns against rigid age limits and additional bureaucracy beyond the Digital Services Act.
- Bitkom advocates a risk-based approach to youth protection, not blanket age restrictions.
- Bitkom highlights technical challenges in reliable, privacy-friendly age verification.
- Bitkom supports safety-by-design and integration of new measures into the existing DSA.
- Article published on 2026-09-17.
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EU Kids Act Proposed to Restrict Social Media Age Limits
The article discusses the EU's proposed Kids Act, which aims to introduce age limits for social media use. Children under 13 would be banned from social media, 13- and 14-year-olds would have restricted, parentally supervised accounts, and only those 15 and older could have their own accounts. The author argues that simply excluding children from social media is insufficient and that platforms must be regulated to create a safer environment. The article also references Australia's recent implementation of a 16-year age limit, noting that enforcement is challenging as youths find ways to bypass age checks. The author emphasizes the need to regulate tech giants rather than exclude young people, advocating for platform responsibility and improved child protection measures.
EU Kids Act: New rules for games companies
The European Commission has proposed the EU Kids Act (Keeping Internet Digital Services Trustworthy & Accountable Act), a legislative framework aimed at regulating online services for minors. The proposal specifically includes video games, video game platforms, and online games within its scope. Key obligations include assuming all users are minors until age verification proves otherwise, implementing age ratings enforced by app stores, and restricting features like unsolicited contact, geolocation, and engagement mechanics such as daily streaks and re-engagement notifications. Games must disable certain features by default, set push notifications off by default, and avoid designs that encourage compulsive use. The proposal also addresses AI companions and chatbots in games. The European Parliament and Council will now negotiate the text, with a process expected to take 8-24 months. Meanwhile, a Digital Fairness Act is anticipated in autumn 2026, which may impose further obligations.
German Commission Recommends Safety by Design for Child Protection
An independent expert commission in Germany has released a final report on child and youth protection in the digital world, presenting 56 recommendations that combine regulation, education, and technical safeguards. The report emphasizes the principles of 'Safety by Design' and 'Safety by Default,' urging platforms to integrate protective features into their product development. It proposes two regulatory models for social media: a minimum age of 13 for independent accounts with graduated protections, or function-based restrictions. The report also highlights the need for mandatory media and AI literacy in schools, and addresses risks from generative AI, including 'AI companions' and deepfakes. The digital association Bitkom has expressed support for the balanced approach.
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