EU pushes stronger child safety online as Digital Services Board sets priorities

What was discussed in Brussels

The European Board for Digital Services held its 20th meeting on 24 September. Regulators discussed online protection of minors, use of the Digital Services Act for election integrity and the work of trusted flaggers who report illegal content to platforms.

The Board also welcomed attention to the proposed EU KIDS Act, presented by the European Commission on 17 September 2026. Detailed rules still face legislative debate, so the direction matters most for now: child safety should be built into a service rather than added after harm occurs.

What this could mean for platforms

Large services will need to assess the risks of recommendation systems, age settings, advertising and engagement mechanisms more carefully. Age assurance must also be proportionate: protecting children should not turn into mass collection of passports and biometric data from every user.

A clear complaint route matters too. Parents and teenagers need simple settings, explanations for blocks or recommendations, a way to appeal decisions and a fast response when harm is imminent.

Why this matters beyond the EU

Rules in major markets shape global products because companies rarely build completely separate safety systems for every country. European requirements can therefore change interfaces and platform practices far beyond the EU, including services used by families in Kazakhstan.

Source: European Commission statement from the Board for Digital Services.