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Being connected as a teen is pretty important. As much as older generations may have adopted social networking, children of today have grown up with it – it's in their blood. But it may not be for much longer, as a new change to EU data protection laws could make it illegal for those under 16 to have accounts on social networks, email or possibly even use search engines.
The problem stems from the fact that all these services gather data on the user, and under the new EU law, it would be illegal to collect information on a user under the age of 16. Those children could use those services if given permission by their parents, but it seems difficult to imagine a robust checking system to confirm if that had actually taken place.
Fortunately for those concerned, the law hasn't been passed yet, only suggested. It is due to be debated between member states today, but if agreed upon, a vote will take place on the 17th, this Thursday, to see if it goes through.
Source: Motiqua/Flickr
Currently social networks and other sites have a minimum age of 13, but under the new rules if they didn't restrict access to those under 16, they could face up to a four per cent fine of their annual turnover. For even monumental companies like Facebook, that would put them in real financial difficulties if several instances of rule breaches were found.
However it may not get that far. Already opposition to the rule is mounting, with even bodies that are typically very pro-child protection suggesting that it will merely lead to children lying about their age, pushing them under the radar for potential special-case protection from social networks and other organisations.
Join us & sign the petition to stop law which says <16's can't access internet without parent permission. Sign here:https://t.co/fi1EYjabP6
— Anti-Bullying Pro (@AntiBullyingPro) December 14, 2015
As much as this part of the legislation may be disruptive, it represents just a small portion of a larger overhaul of EU data laws, which wants to paint all countries with the same brush, unifying data protection laws throughout member states.
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KitGuru Says: As much as not letting children be obsessed and exploited by internet companies is a good plan, pragmatically this isn't going to work. As the Anti-Bullying group says, they're just going to lie and join up anyway. I think we all did that with age restricted services at some point.
EU intervening where they have no right to intervene! We didn’t elect these fools! The EU needs to be removed from society!
Not to undermine your general point, because I am not a big fan of the EU either, but you did elect the European Parliament. There were elections in 2014.
The European Commission, the only people in the European Parliament who can write up laws were not elected, including the man that likes to call himself “President of Europe”
Lucas you don’t understand how the EU works at all KWar is 100% right, the President of Europe was elected in secret elections
glad to see the EU is dealing with the big problems, i mean forming a unified body against isis falls way behind regulating an unregulatable force like the internet…
if you believe that, you will believe anything.
Yes, but parliament selects the commission and has to vote on laws proposed by the Commission. They also propose amandments and such. So while the elected MP’s lack legislative initiative, they definitely have legislative power.
You, sir, must be Sith; dealing in absolutes. Tss.
Why should people unelected by the people be allowed to propose new legislation? Not to mention that UK interests are very often completely different to that of the rest of Europe and therefore we lose out straight away and have no chance of winning. We’d be better off out and rejoining our friends of the Commonwealth for free trade and stronger cultural links.
Don’t ask me; again, I’m not a big fan of the EU either. And it’s not just the UK, every country has different interests that they unnecessarily have to compromise on. And now we’re again talking about letting Turkey be a part of it, great! I would be perfectly content if all the EU did was arrange free trade and open borders within the EU (with fewer countries than we have right now), and make sure that the EU borders are in turn well guarded.
You are only trying to attract attention of Anonymous right EU? Big mistake! If this law comes in to power, you are going to taste a big cyber war, then what this leads to is another question.