EU delays national social media age bans as Austria objects
The 12-month pause affects Austria’s proposed under-14 restrictions while EU governments and lawmakers consider a bloc-wide law.
The European Commission has ordered a 12-month delay for proposed national laws that overlap with its planned EU-wide social media rules for children, spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. Austria’s proposed ban for under-14s is the first affected.
Austria challenged the intervention. State Secretary Alexander Pröll told Politico Europe that Brussels should not prevent national legislation without having a completed European alternative. Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler said preparations would continue so Austria could introduce its ban when the delay expires.
Austria submitted its draft to Brussels on 28 July, according to the Commission’s notification database. The proposal would impose age checks and a minimum age of 14 for video-sharing platforms. EU countries must notify Brussels of draft technical legislation before adopting it.
The Commission’s EU Kids Act proposal, presented in September, would exclude under-13s from most social media and restrict access for under-15s. The European Parliament and national governments have yet to agree on it. Politico Europe reported that implementation may not come until 2028.
Earlier notifications could leave Greece and France in a different position. Greece will likely retain its recently passed under-15 ban, Politico Europe reported. AFP reported that France has been asked to revise its draft but is not expected to face a block. Italy’s draft remains under review, while Denmark is continuing work on national legislation.
