European Commission’s proposed EU Kids Act could see online games forced to enact stricter age verification amid new rules around accounts for under 15s
The European Commission is proposing the EU Kids Act, new legislation designed to regulate how children under 15 access digital services including social media, artificial intelligence chatbots, and online video games. The proposed rules would establish a tiered system governing the types of accounts children are permitted to create to access these services. A key requirement would be the implementation of age verification processes that users must complete before accessing these platforms, an approach similar to the one outlined in the UK’s Online Safety Act. According to the Commission, the regulations are intended to balance allowing minors to benefit from digital services while simultaneously protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and other potential harms. The proposed legislation would likely force online game developers and platforms to implement stricter age verification measures to comply with the new regulatory requirements, potentially changing how younger players access gaming content.