Online Protection and Empowerment of Minors

Since the entry into force of the Digital Services Act (DSA) at the end of 2022, the European Commission has identified the protection of minors as one of the regulation’s key enforcement priorities. Across Europe, calls to strengthen action in this area are intensifying. From proposals to introduce an ‘age of digital majority’ to efforts to tackle harmful online practices such as addictive design and dark patterns, a wide range of policy options is currently being debated at EU level. At the same time, an increasing number of Member States are adopting or considering national legislation to restrict minors’ access to social media platforms, risking fragmentation of the regulatory landscape and potentially undermining the objectives of the DSA.

Amid this flurry of initiatives, our experts are exploring:

• How to better leverage the powers of the DSA to strengthen the protection and empowerment of minors online, in particular how to effectively implement and enforce Article 28 and the accompanying guidelines issued by the European Commission.

• The interplay and potential overlaps between the DSA and other EU tech legislation in relation to minors, with a view to informing policymaking around the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA).

• The growing use of generative AI and AI companions by minors, and their potential impact on mental health and overall wellbeing.