02-04-2025
Dutch Lawmakers Propose Digital Red Button to Delete Social Media Data
Male finger pointing delete key on a metallic keyboard
Dutch lawmakers have introduced legislation that would create a centralized "Red Button" system allowing children to delete their personal data from major tech platforms with a single action. The proposal comes as the Netherlands confronts growing concerns about youth digital wellbeing.
MPs Don Ceder (of the Christian Union Party) and Jesse Six Dijkstra (Nieuw Sociaal Contract) presented their initiative on Tuesday, citing alarming statistics from a 2024 study. According to the research, Dutch youths aged 15-21 spend an average of 5.4 hours daily on smartphones, with over 60% reporting social media addiction. Among teenage girls, nearly 40% experience negative emotions after platform use.
The Red Button proposal aims to streamline the GDPR's right to be forgotten, which currently requires users to navigate multiple platform-specific processes. Under the plan, a government-backed system would enable mass data deletion requests across tech platforms designated as 'Very Large Online Platforms' under the EU's Digital Services Act.
"Nowadays you can no longer access a website without being tracked," Ceder told Dutch magazine AD. "Before you are 18, all digital profiles are already made of you. If you have ended up in a trap, you will find it difficult to get out of it."
The initiative would offer citizens turning 18 one free use of the deletion system, symbolizing a fresh start into adulthood. For adults, the service would be available for a nominal fee.
Tech companies would be required to comply with deletion requests submitted through the system. "They have to do it already," Ceder noted, referring to existing GDPR obligations. 'It therefore seems more than logical to me that they just listen when the House asks.'
Even if approved by the Parliament, the initiative could face significant implementation challenges. Enforcement could be tricky: if a U.S.-based platform drags its feet, would the Dutch government have the leverage to compel action?
Six Dijkstra acknowledged that national regulations alone cannot force international platforms to comply but, as reported by deVolksrant, suggested the initiative could influence European policy development and turn the Netherlands into a pioneer of the European standard for online children's rights.
The technological infrastructure required for a centralized deletion system while maintaining privacy standards presents additional hurdles.
The proposal extends beyond data deletion to include mandatory age verification for online platforms. Rather than relying on self-declared birthdates, the lawmakers suggest cryptographic solutions such as zero-knowledge proofs that would verify age without sharing identities. This would enable platforms to comply with digital protection laws without collecting sensitive personal information.
The Dutch approach differs from other regulatory efforts by emphasizing user agency rather than platform restrictions alone. The proposal includes support for the Jongerenraad Digitalisering, a youth advisory council that would provide input on implementation, and also addresses broader issues of digital overexposure by proposing investments in physical alternatives to screen time. This includes support for community spaces like libraries and youth centers, alongside government campaigns promoting "dumb phones" – basic mobile devices without social media capabilities – as first devices for younger children.
The proposed legislation remains in early stages, with details on funding and implementation timelines still under development. Parliament will debate the measure in the coming months to determine if there is majority support for the initiative.
If successful, the Netherlands would establish one of the world's first centralized data deletion systems specifically designed for youth digital rights protection, potentially creating a precedent for similar measures across the European Union.
