Five EU states to test age-check app to protect children online

BRUSSELS: Five EU countries including France will test an app to check users’ ages in an effort to prevent children accessing harmful content online, the European Commission said Monday.

Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain will then customise the app — based on a prototype developed for the EU — with the aim of launching national versions within several months, Brussels said, according to the AFP.

The move comes as Greece, backed by France and Spain, has been spearheading efforts to get the EU to significantly limit the amount of time teenagers can spend online.

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron said he will ban social media for under-15s in France “in the coming months” if progress isn’t forthcoming at EU level.

“We cannot wait,” Macron said, speaking on France 2 after a killing in Nogent, Haute-Marne.

He had reacted to the killing of the female teaching assistant, who was stabbed by a 15-year-old pupil outside a school.

Back then, he also announced that age verification will soon be imposed in France on sites selling knives online, similar to measures that currently apply to pornographic sites.

“A 15-year-old will no longer be able to buy a knife online. That means we’re going to impose massive financial sanctions and bans,” he promised.

However, US President Donald Trump has been very critical of the countries, especially the Europeans, for “hindering American companies’ global competitiveness”.

According to the White House, the US tech sector “is a victim of overseas extortion and unfair fines and penalties”.

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One has to see how the United States reacts to this and other initiative given the dominance of US tech giants.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.