By Eliza Gkritsi | Euractiv Est. 3min 26-03-2024 (updated: 21-05-2024 ) Content-Type: News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. "The principle is not in dispute: children must be protected and their rights apply online as offline." [Shutterstock / Rawpixel.com] Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Digital Services Act (DSA) and European Digital Identity Wallets (EDIW) take the spotlight in the EU’s work to protect minors online, according to an unreleased document seen by Euractiv. The DSA looks to enhance online safety by clarifying responsibility for online actors and addressing illegal and harmful content. Digital identity wallets, under the Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (eIDAS) regulation, provide a secure platform for managing personal identification documents and fostering standardised digital identification across the EU. A declaration to be presented at the informal meeting of Europe’s telecom ministers on April 11-12, calls for the rigorous and effective enforcement of the DSA and EDIW to protect children and young adults online, according to a document seen by Euractiv. The meeting will take place in the framework of the Council of the European Union. Signatories will issue clear guidance to all online platforms to ensure the required level of privacy, safety, and security for all users, particularly minors, as mentioned in the declaration. That includes using digital identity and age verification tools, such as the digital identity wallets, the document says. Signatories will also look to harmonise technical standards across the EU, for online age verification by relying on the functionalities available under the European digital wallets, said the declaration. The EU Commission has been working hard to enforce the DSA, which regulates content on large online platforms. Last week, nine big tech firms were questioned about generative AI on their platforms and DSA compliance. European legislators agreed in November 2023 on regulation to introduce digital identity wallets as part of the EU’s effort to digitise public services by 2023. The digital identities will be made available to all EU citizens and businesses, allowing them to digitally store and exchange government information, such as their name, surname, and date of birth. Meanwhile, the Belgian presidency of the EU Council is proposing to focus on member states’ authorities’ roles to detect and remove online child sexual abuse material, according to another document seen by Euractiv. However, the file has been stuck at the Council for a while, after the main political groups of the EU Parliament reached an agreement on the draft law last October. It is unclear whether the document seen by Euractiv is a final version of the declration. [Edited by Rajnish Singh] Read more with Euractiv EU Commission launches probes into Alphabet, Apple, Meta for anticompetitive behaviorThe European Commission is opening non-compliance investigations into Alphabet, Google's parent company, Apple, and Meta under the Digital Markets Act, the institution announced on Monday (25 March).
