EU KIDS Act
This page provides continuous monitoring of the EU KIDS Act (EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy). It tracks legislative developments, emerging regulatory choices and their implications for children’s fundamental rights within the broader EU digital regulatory framework.
Last updated: 26 October 2026
1. Legislative status
Proposal stage – Ordinary legislative procedure (2026/0286(COD)):
- Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council – EU KIDS Act (COM(2026) 681 final), 17 September 2026
- European Parliament – Legislative Observatory, procedure 2026/0286(COD)
- European Commission – Proposal and supporting documents, 17 September 2026
The proposal is currently under examination by the European Parliament and the Council. In Parliament, IMCO is the committee responsible, with SANT, ITRE, CULT, JURI and LIBE designated as committees for opinion.
2. Key regulatory scope
The proposal aims to establish a harmonised EU framework for the protection of minors online, addressing risks associated with digital services and certain AI systems while reducing regulatory fragmentation across Member States.
It introduces a graduated approach to children’s access to certain social networking services and video-sharing platforms, restricting access for children under 13, allowing limited parental-supervised accounts for 13- and 14-year-olds, and setting 15 as the minimum age for autonomous accounts.
Beyond age restrictions, the proposal establishes safety-by-design requirements covering a wider range of digital services, including online games, AI chatbots and companions, and app stores. It also introduces privacy-preserving age assurance requirements and an enforcement framework building on existing EU digital legislation, particularly the Digital Services Act and the AI Act.
3. Key developments
- 22 October 2026 – European Parliament: referral to parliamentary committees announced.
- 2 October 2026 – European Commission launches a call for feedback on the EU KIDS Act. The consultation is open until 3 December 2026.
- 17 September 2026 – European Commission presents the EU KIDS Act proposal.
- 13 July 2026 – Special Panel on Child Safety Online presents its recommendations.
4. Our analysis
5. Other useful documents
- Communication from the Commission – An EU approach to online child safety (COM(2026) 680 final), 17 September 2026.
- Commission Staff Working Document – Analysis of impacts accompanying the EU KIDS Act proposal (SWD(2026) 681 final), 17 September 2026.
- European Commission – The KIDS Act explained: Questions and answers, September 2026.
- Special Panel on Child Safety Online – Child Safety Online: Protecting and Empowering Minors in a Digital World, 13 July 2026.
- European Parliament resolution on the protection of minors online (2025/2060(INI)), 26 November 2025.
- European Commission – Guidelines on the protection of minors under the Digital Services Act, 14 July 2025.
- European Data Protection Board – Statement 1/2025 on Age Assurance, 12 February 2025.
