Joint Statement on Proposed New Measures for Child Online Safety in the EU

Date: 10th July 2026
Category:

5rights Foundation coordinated a joint letter addressed to President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, cautioning against an age-based blanket ban on social media and measures that could compromise the rights of children and young people.

Together signed the letter, expressing support for the calls made within the letter for a European approach that “respects and upholds children’s rights and evolving capacities, [...] remains technologically neutral, and places strict, legal accountability on providers to make their services and products safe and private by design and by default.” The letter also proposes additional measures to keep children and young people safe online, including more support for children’s growth and development in both online and offline settings, and more robust enforcement of GDPR regulations designed to protect children from data-driven commercial exploitation.

The letter was signed by 79 organisations and 62 experts in the field.

Read the full letter here