Greece Mandates Digital Gatekeeping for Under-15s

Greece has officially enacted a legislative framework that prohibits children under the age of fifteen from using major social media platforms. The measure, which was championed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, transforms a previously announced policy into binding law. The regulation targets popular services such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, requiring them to implement robust and proportionate age-verification systems to ensure compliance with the new standards.

The path to this legislation began earlier in the year when the Prime Minister first outlined the proposal. He described the bill as a difficult but necessary step for the country. The parliamentary process concluded recently, allowing the government to push the measure through despite opposition from minority parties. This decision follows a broader trend in the nation, which previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2024, signaling a continued effort to regulate digital access for minors.

The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Until then, platforms and parents must prepare for the new requirements. A key component of the enforcement strategy involves state-backed applications named Kids Wallet and Gov.gr. These tools are designed to be paired with a child's device to block access to social networks. They utilize a system of age tokens, a method intended to verify a user's age while minimizing the amount of personal data that is disclosed or stored.

Digital Governance and AI Minister Dimitris Papastergiou defended the national approach against the idea of waiting for a unified EU solution. He stated, "It would have been very easy to do absolutely nothing today and wait for the perfect European law. But the challenge is here. Children are sinking into the internet every day, and I believe a responsible government must do what it is obliged to do." His remarks highlight the urgency felt by the administration to act before a broader continental consensus is reached.

Non-compliance with the new act will result in fines under the existing EU Digital Services Act. This financial leverage is expected to pressure tech companies to adopt the necessary verification technologies. The government’s strategy appears to be gaining traction domestically, as opinion polls indicate that the adult population widely supports the ban. This public backing provides a solid foundation for the policy as it enters its implementation phase.

The move also aims to influence the broader European legislative landscape. Mitsotakis has expressed a goal of pushing the European Union in the same direction. The European Commission has recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which proposes an outright ban for children under thirteen. While Greece’s threshold is slightly higher, the two initiatives share a similar philosophical underpinning regarding digital age limits.

The practical application of age verification remains a significant hurdle. Australia was the first country to enact a full social media ban for children, but it has faced challenges in implementing reliable verification methods. Greece will now watch closely to see if its specific approach to age tokens and state apps offers a more effective solution to a problem that has proven difficult to solve globally.