The Age Verification Dilemma: Balancing child protection and digital access rights – MT 05 2025
14 May 2025 | 09:00 - 10:30 CEST | Hemicycle | 
Consolidated programme 2025
Proposals: #8, (#11), #18, #19, #21, #22, #23, #24, #48
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As online safety regulations evolve across Europe, age verification is at the heart of the debate. Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), online platforms must implement measures to protect minors – yet questions remain on how to balance child protection with digital rights and data privacy. But how far should these restrictions go? Should access to social media be limited – or are there better alternatives that balance safety with children’s right to participation? With the UK’s Online Safety Act rolling out in 2025, global efforts intensifying, and as the EU explores an Age-Appropriate Design Code, this panel will discuss the future of age assurance, the challenges of technical implementation, and whether a unified EU approach is the answer to safeguarding young users while maintaining an open and inclusive digital space.
Session description
As concerns over online safety grow, particularly for children, governments and tech platforms are increasingly turning to age assurance mechanisms to restrict access to certain digital content and services. While these measures aim to protect young users from harm, they also raise complex questions about privacy, freedom of expression, and the right to access digital spaces.
This interactive workshop explores the ethical and technological challenges surrounding age assurance. Speakers will examine current and proposed policies, assess the implications for diverse stakeholders—including minors, parents, tech companies, and civil liberties advocates—and engage in scenario-based discussions to navigate the trade-offs between child protection and digital access rights.
Format
Please try out new interactive formats. EuroDIG is about dialogue not about statements, presentations and speeches. Workshops should not be organised as a small plenary.
Further reading
- IEEE SA standards addressing data governance for children.
- IEEE 2089™ – Age-Appropriate Digital Services Framework
- IEEE P2089.1™ – Online Age Verification
- IEEE 3527.1™ – IEEE Standard for Digital Intelligence (DQ) — Framework for Digital Literacy, Skills and Readiness
- Applied Case Studies for Designing Trustworthy Digital Experiences for Children
- European Data Protection Board. Statement on Age Assurance. February 2025.
- Communique - Global Age Assurance Standards Summit 2024
People
Please provide name and institution for all people you list here.
Programme Committee member(s)
- Desara Dushi, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
The Programme Committee supports the programme planning process and works closely with the Secretariat. Members of the committee give advice on the topics, cluster the proposals and assist session organisers in their work. They also ensure that session principles are followed and overlook the complete programme to avoid repetition among sessions.
Focal Point
- David Frautschy, Internet Society
Focal Points take over the responsibility and lead of the session organisation. They work in close cooperation with the respective member of the Programme Committee and the EuroDIG Secretariat and are kindly requested to follow EuroDIG’s session principles.
Organising Team (Org Team) List Org Team members here as they sign up.
- Karen Mulberry, IEEE Standards Association (SA)
- Karen McCabe, IEEE Standards Association (SA)
- Alena Muravska, Ripe NCC
- Constance Weise, IEEE Standards Association (SA)
- Tatiana Tropina, Internet Society
- Torsten Krause, stiftung digitale chancen
- Tony Allen, Age Check Certification Scheme
- Iain M Corby, Age Verification Providers Association, Online Age Verification Working Group, IEEE Standards Association
- Liljana Pecova, IMPETUS – Center for Internet, Development and Good Governance
- Niels Zagema, Dutch National Youth Council (NJR)
The Org Team is shaping the session. Org Teams are open, and every interested individual can become a member by subscribing to the mailing list.
Key Participants
- Tatiana Tropina, Senior Advisor, Institutional Relations, ISOC (https://www.internetsociety.org/author/tropina/)
would like to share the insights and recommendations of the Internet Society on this topic [in person, confirmed] - Manon Baert, 5Rights Foundation, United Kingdom
Children’s Rights perspective [pending on site or online, confirmed] - Michael Terhörst, Head of KidD Germany
KidD is the independant Federal Office for the Enforcement of Children's Rights in digital Services and monitors compliance with key obligations for providers of digital services under the Digital Services Act (DSA) [on site, confirmed] - Iain Corby, Executive Director, Age Verification Providers Association; Chair, Online Age Verification Working Group, IEEE Standards Association [online, confirmed]
Key Participants (also speakers) are experts willing to provide their knowledge during a session. Key Participants should contribute to the session planning process and keep statements short and punchy during the session. They will be selected and assigned by the Org Team, ensuring a stakeholder balanced dialogue also considering gender and geographical balance. Please provide short CV’s of the Key Participants at the Wiki or link to another source.
Moderator
- Karen Mulberry, Senior Manager, Technology Policy, IEEE Standards Association
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Remote Moderator
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Reporter
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Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes
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Messages
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- relate to the session and to European Internet governance policy
- are forward looking and propose goals and activities that can be initiated after EuroDIG (recommendations)
- are in (rough) consensus with the audience
Video record
Will be provided here after the event.
Transcript
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