The Dutch Cabinet welcomes the European Commission’s proposed legislation to improve children’s online safety, but raises concerns about its potential effects on privacy and fundamental rights. The EU KIDS Act seeks to make digital services, including social media, online games, and AI chatbots, safer for children.
Under the proposal, digital services would need to be safe for children by design. This would include eliminating addictive design features and strengthening personal data protection. The government supports this approach and backs setting a minimum age of 15 for creating accounts on social media and video-sharing platforms. However, age verification must be secure and reliable, and its impact on fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and access to information, must be carefully assessed.
Have your say on the proposal
The proposed ‘mini-accounts’ would allow children aged 13 to 15 to use social media in a more limited way, subject to parental consent. The government is concerned this could create inequalities among children and place too much responsibility on parents. It also sees potential risks to privacy.
Anyone wishing to submit feedback on the proposed legislation is welcome to do so by 3 December 2026.
Strategy for children’s online rights
The EU KIDS Act is part of a broader government strategy to protect children online. That strategy also has a child-friendly version, where kids can learn about online risks, their rights, and the steps the government is taking to make the digital world safer.
