Minors online: the EU launches age verification test

The European Commission has published the first version of the European model for age verification, marking a decisive step toward a safer Internet for minors. This is an open-source technical solution designed to be interoperable, user-friendly, and, above all, respectful of users’ privacy. Its main purpose is to allow users to prove they are over 18 in order to access age-restricted content without having to disclose unnecessary personal information. The initiative is part of the implementation of Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires digital platforms accessible to minors to adopt measures ensuring safety, privacy, and protection.

With the launch of a pilot phase, the Commission will test and further tailor the solution in collaboration with several Member States, involving online platforms and end users. Italy, along with Denmark, France, Greece, and Spain, will be among the first countries to adopt the system, with the goal of integrating it into their national digital wallets or publishing dedicated apps on app stores. Private operators will also have free access to the software and will be able to develop their own solutions based on the model. The pilot project officially began at the end of June, supported by the European Union’s Safer Internet Centres, and will continue with an in-depth testing phase that also includes adult content providers.

One of the most innovative aspects of the solution is its strong focus on data protection. When a user activates the application, the issuer—such as a public authority—will verify their age using personal data like the date of birth. However, the online service will receive only confirmation that the user is over 18, without any additional details. The verification and usage information will be kept separate, preventing any cross-platform tracking. Each “age check” will be usable only once, making it impossible to monitor user behavior across different platforms. Additionally, work is underway to integrate “zero-knowledge proof” systems, which would allow verification to occur completely disconnected from any identifying data. During the pilot phase, the system will be further enriched with new features. Users will have alternative ways to prove their age, even without an eID, and Member States will be able to adapt the solution to national specifics—translating it into local languages or integrating visual and functional elements of their own.

The project is closely tied to another key Commission initiative: the adoption of the Guidelines for the Protection of Minors Online, also published yesterday, July 14. These guidelines offer a set of recommendations to platforms for reducing risks related to harmful content, problematic behaviors, and manipulative commercial practices. Among the proposed measures: defaulting minors’ accounts to private mode, modifying algorithms to avoid inappropriate content, introducing tools to block or mute other users, and disabling features that encourage excessive use of digital services. The guidelines also recommend adopting age verification methods that are reliable, non-invasive, and respectful of children’s rights—specifically citing the newly published European model as a reference example, particularly in view of the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW), expected by the end of 2026.

Development of the verification model has been entrusted to the T-Scy consortium, composed of Scytales AB (Sweden) and T-Systems International GmbH (Germany), under a two-year contract with the European Commission. The Commission’s work has been accompanied by a broad public consultation process and stakeholder engagement. The consultation, conducted between May and June 2025, involved 331 participants, including citizens, NGOs, companies, trade associations, public authorities, and universities. Additionally, over 150 direct testimonials from young people across the EU were gathered through focus groups coordinated by European Schoolnet and national Safer Internet Centres. The youth highlighted fundamental issues such as time management online, mental well-being, reporting transparency, and the need to feel involved in decision-making processes that affect them. These efforts were complemented by contributions collected through a call for evidence launched between July and September 2024, several stakeholder workshops—including those in October 2024 and June 2025—and ongoing dialogue with the European Board for Digital Services, particularly its working group on child protection.

With this new digital infrastructure and the accompanying regulatory framework, the European Union is positioning itself at the forefront of creating a digital space that truly protects young people—a system where privacy protection is not sacrificed for security, but rather becomes its essential condition.