Portugal tigtens online safeguards for underage children

LISBON: Portugal’s parliament has approved, in its first reading, a draft law introducing mandatory age verification and parental consent for minors accessing social media platforms, marking one of Europe’s early legislative moves to tighten online safeguards for children.

The bill, tabled by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), requires children aged between 13 and 16 to obtain explicit parental consent before using social networking, video- and image-sharing platforms. It also reinforces the existing ban on children under 13 from accessing such services.

Under the proposed framework, parents would use Portugal’s Digital Mobile Key (DMK) system to approve. Technology companies operating in the country would be required to adopt age-verification mechanisms compatible with the DMK, ensuring compliance with the new rules.

Lawmakers say the legislation aims to close a regulatory gap that has allowed multinational digital platforms to operate with limited oversight regarding minors’ access. The draft warns that early or excessive exposure to social media may affect children’s cognitive and emotional development.

“We have to protect our children. We do not intend to prohibit for the sake of prohibiting. We want to create a norm that gives more power to parents and families to accompany and control,” PSD lawmaker Paulo Marcelo said ahead of the vote.

The bill was approved by 148 votes to 69, with 13 abstentions, and may still be amended before a final vote in parliament.

If enacted, companies found violating the rules could face fines of up to 2% of their global annual revenue.

Portugal’s move follows similar efforts elsewhere. France’s lower house recently backed a proposal to ban social media access for children under 15, while Australia’s ban on under-16s using major social platforms came into force in December.

The proposed law underscores Lisbon’s push to strengthen parental oversight and ensure greater accountability from tech companies operating in the country.