European Commission calls for stronger protection of Children online

Date: 10th August 2026
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

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The European Commission is considering a major change to how children are protected online, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for technology companies to take greater responsibility for keeping children safe.

Following a new report from the Special Panel on protecting children online, von der Leyen said technology companies should be required to show that their products and services are safe for children before allowing them to access them. This would move responsibility away from children and parents having to manage online risks themselves and towards companies designing safer products from the start.

The Special Panel's recommendations are based on children's rights, safety-by-design and age-appropriate design. They also recognise that children and young people have different levels of independence and need different protections as they grow older.

5Rights Foundation, which contributed to the Special Panel's work, welcomed the proposed changes and called for a consistent approach across the EU. The organisation highlighted the importance of ensuring that all children have the same level of rights and protection online, regardless of where they live.

The European Commission is expected to consider the recommendations and could bring forward a legislative proposal in September. If introduced, the changes could mark a significant shift towards making technology companies more responsible for protecting children from harm online.

·       Read more on 5Rights Foundation webpage.