European Union says age-check app ready to protect children online

European Union – (Web Desk) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that a new age verification app made by the European Union is now ready. It is part of wider efforts to better protect children from harmful content online.

The app is expected to be launched in the coming months. It is designed to replace simple pop-up messages where users only click to confirm they are over 18. Instead, it will allow people to prove their age in a safer and more reliable way when visiting certain websites, especially adult content platforms.

Speaking in Brussels, von der Leyen said users will be able to download the app, connect it with their passport or ID card, and then use it as proof of age across different online services. She compared it to showing ID when buying alcohol in a shop.

The move comes as many European countries push for stricter rules to protect young users online. Some governments are even considering age limits for social media. Countries like France and Italy have already tested the system over the past year.

Officials say the technology behind the app is similar to the digital tools used during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people used online certificates to show vaccination status while traveling and accessing public places.

Under EU digital laws, websites that offer adult content, gambling, or alcohol must use strong age checks. However, the European Commission has said that current systems are not strong enough. In March, it even accused several adult websites of failing to properly block underage users.

EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen said the new app will give platforms a clear and trusted way to check age. She added that companies will no longer have excuses for weak safety systems.

The app will also act as a standard tool to test whether online platforms are following the rules. Officials say it is designed to be simple, free, and easy to use, while still protecting children from harmful or illegal content.

Privacy has also been a key focus. The app is designed to be completely anonymous so users cannot be tracked when visiting websites. It is also built using open-source code, meaning other countries outside the EU could use it if they choose.

Officials said alternative systems must follow the same strict privacy rules. “We don’t want platforms to scan our passport or face,” Virkkunen explained.

The first rollout is expected in seven EU countries that have already been testing it, with wider use planned by the end of the year. Once active, users visiting adult websites may be asked to verify their age using this system or a similar approved method.

Some officials admitted the process may feel a bit inconvenient, but said it is a small trade-off if it helps keep children safe online.

There are also concerns that young users may still try to bypass restrictions using VPNs or help from older people. However, EU officials say the main goal is not to police users, but to prevent children from seeing inappropriate content too easily.

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The push for stronger rules has grown since Australia introduced strict social media age limits for under-16s. In Europe, countries like Denmark, Greece, and Spain are also supporting tougher action, while France is debating a ban for under-15s.

Digital rights groups, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), have raised concerns. They argue that focusing only on age checks may not solve the real problem and say platforms themselves must take more responsibility for harmful content.

The European Union already has some of the strictest digital rules in the world, with ongoing investigations into platforms like Instagram and TikTok over child safety concerns.

Von der Leyen has also suggested the idea of a minimum age for social media across the EU. However, she said experts will first provide recommendations later this year.

She stressed that protecting children online is a shared responsibility. “We must protect children in the online world just as we do in real life, and that requires a united European approach,” she said.