Vigenin: Europe has to guarantee stronger protection for children in the digital space

“We face the worrying reality that children spend more and more time online, while the risks, from harmful content and misleading algorithms to commercial exploitation, are growing. The data on anxiety, lack of sleep and psychological problems among young people show clearly that action is needed.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats at the adoption of the European Parliament report that sets new standards for children’s safety in the digital environment.

“Europe has to guarantee the same level of protection for all children, whichever member state they live in,” he emphasised. In his view platforms have to take greater responsibility for the design of their services, and artificial intelligence has to be subject to transparency and control.

The European Parliament report outlines a package of measures aimed at limiting the most serious risks in the digital environment. They include introducing parental consent for children between 13 and 16 when using social networks, video platforms and AI chatbots; removing the most addictive features of platforms, such as infinite scrolling and the automatic playing of videos; and stricter control over fake clips created through artificial intelligence. Particular attention is also paid to age verification systems, which have to be effective but must not use biometric data or behavioural profiling, so that the right to privacy is not put at risk.

Vigenin stressed that protecting children online must not conflict with fundamental rights: “We need reliable age verification mechanisms that protect children without violating their right to privacy.”

He added that Europe has to build a digital environment “in which platforms serve people, not the other way round” and called on the institutions to work for a quick finalisation of the legislative changes.