EU denies plans for internet passport or VPN ban

• Viral claims suggest the EU is introducing an 'internet passport' to censor internet access.
• The European Commission's planned age-verification app is intended to protect minors from harmful online content.
• Users will initially verify their age with an official identity document, but the app only confirms age thresholds for specific services.
• The app is designed to reveal only age verification status, not personal information.
• The European Commission denies any plans to ban Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Viral misinformation claiming the European Union is preparing to implement an 'internet passport' to censor online access has been circulating widely. These claims misrepresent the European Commission's planned age-verification app, which is designed to help shield children from harmful or age-inappropriate online content.

The app, expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026, requires users to initially verify their age using an official identity document, such as a passport or national identity card. However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the system is intended to allow users to prove they meet an age requirement, similar to how shops check ID for alcohol purchases. Once verified, the app will only indicate whether a user meets the age threshold for a particular online service, without revealing personal details like name or date of birth. Von der Leyen also noted the software will be open source.

Further misinformation suggests the EU plans to ban Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to prevent users from bypassing the age-verification system. This narrative stems from a European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) briefing that examined how VPNs could be used to circumvent age verification. The report, however, was a research document for MEPs and not an official policy proposal. European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen clarified that while no technological solution is foolproof, the aim is to make age-verification safeguards harder to circumvent, not to ban VPNs. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed there is 'absolutely no crackdown on VPNs' and that the EU remains committed to a free and open internet while enhancing child protection online.