Key facts
- EU asks capitals to pause national social media bans for 12 months.
- Austria criticized the order, calling it unacceptable.
- The Kids Act aims for EU-wide social media access rules.
- Greece's law for under-15s may be grandfathered in.
The European Commission is directing EU member states to halt any national legislation that restricts social media access for minors for a period of 12 months. This directive aims to allow for the finalization and negotiation of a unified EU-wide law, known as the Kids Act. Austria, which had proposed a ban for those under 14, criticized the order, with State Secretary Alexander Pröll calling it unacceptable for Brussels to block national efforts without a complete European solution. The Kids Act proposal sets different access limits for minors under 13 and under 15, and requires safety-by-design features on platforms. Greece, having already passed its own law for under-15s, may be exempt due to its earlier legislative process.