European Lawmakers Seek EU-Wide Minimum Age To Access AI Chatbots, Social Media (reuters.com)
(Wednesday November 26, 2025 @05:41PM (BeauHD)
from the age-appropriate dept.)
- Reference: 0180218193
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/11/26/1945257/european-lawmakers-seek-eu-wide-minimum-age-to-access-ai-chatbots-social-media
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/european-lawmakers-seek-eu-wide-minimum-age-access-ai-chatbots-social-media-2025-11-26/
The European Parliament has [1]passed a non-binding resolution [2]urging an EU-wide minimum age of 16 to access social media, video-sharing platforms, and AI chatbots , with parental consent allowed for ages 13-16 and a hard ban for anyone under 13. "It also proposes additional measures, including a ban on addictive design features that keep children hooked to screens and manipulative advertising and gambling-like elements," reports Reuters. Furthermore, the draft "calls for the outright blocking of websites that don't follow EU rules and to address AI tools that can create fake or inappropriate content."
The resolution "carries no legal weight" but reflects the growing concern on the issue of AI companions and algorithm-driven platforms even. "Any binding legislation would require formal proposals from the European Commission, followed by negotiations between EU member states and Parliament in a process that typically takes years to complete," notes the report.
[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251120IPR31496/children-should-be-at-least-16-to-access-social-media-say-meps
[2] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/european-lawmakers-seek-eu-wide-minimum-age-access-ai-chatbots-social-media-2025-11-26/
The resolution "carries no legal weight" but reflects the growing concern on the issue of AI companions and algorithm-driven platforms even. "Any binding legislation would require formal proposals from the European Commission, followed by negotiations between EU member states and Parliament in a process that typically takes years to complete," notes the report.
[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251120IPR31496/children-should-be-at-least-16-to-access-social-media-say-meps
[2] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/european-lawmakers-seek-eu-wide-minimum-age-access-ai-chatbots-social-media-2025-11-26/
Half-measures (Score:2)
by dskoll ( 99328 )
The minimum age should be set at 350 years.
Re: (Score:2)
by Fly Swatter ( 30498 )
I don't know, that seems off - is that in Metric years?
They need a Great Firewall (Score:2)
by Kernel Kurtz ( 182424 )
> the draft "calls for the outright blocking of websites that don't follow EU rules
Not sure why they are banning Chinese network equipment. Sounds like the perfect fit.
Try as they might... (Score:2)
The Technocracy is impossible to contain. It cannot be stopped. First it was social media, then it was LLMs, and soon it will be cybernetics and augmentations and BCIs. Cybernetics and embedded tech upgrades will be the greatest addiction the human species has ever devised.