Latest news with #EU-wide
Euractiv
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
How EU countries are clamping down on kids' access to social media
Recent guidelines from Brussels on protecting minors online have given the green light to EU countries to adopt stricter rules that restrict – or even ban – kids from accessing social media. We dive into the state of play across several countries leading the charge for tougher online child safeguarding. Earlier this month, the EU's executive presented new guidelines under the Digital Services Act (DSA), setting out its expectations for how platforms should protect children using their online services. At the same time, the Commission has allowed member states to adopt a so-called "digital majority", enabling them to go further by banning social media access for kids under a certain age, or by requiring parental consent. Greece, Spain, and France jointly signed a declaration in June – later joined by Cyprus, Denmark, Slovenia – that urged the Commission to introduce an EU-wide digital majority and implement stronger age verification rules on platforms. While the Commission rejected that idea, arguing that cultural differences make an EU standard inappropriate, it has allowed countries to set their own age thresholds for teens to access social media. It has also developed a prototype age verification tool that member countries can use to customise their own national age-check apps to support various approaches to safeguarding kids online. Below, we've rounded up the state of play across several EU countries that are adjusting their national laws to curb kids' access to social media or taking other steps aimed at improving child safety online. France France has been the loudest proponent for banning social media access for minors, leading the EU-wide push to give member states the right to do so. President Emmanuel Macron has taken a personal interest in the issue. Paris is working on implementing a ban as soon as the autumn session starts, according to a French government spokesperson, although the exact timeline will depend on national legislators. Separately, France has already implemented strict age verification rules for pornographic websites, leading to platforms such as Pornhub blocking access to French users. France is one of five countries participating in the pilot phase of the Commission's prototype app. The government spokesperson told Euractiv that authorities are still deciding whether to use the 'zero-knowledge proof' open-source technology developed by Google – which is integrated into the Commission's prototype – or opt for a sovereign alternative. Ireland Starting this week, major video-sharing platforms established in Ireland – including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Tumblr, Udemy, X and YouTube – are required under the country's Online Safety Code to implement age checks and/or parental controls. Under Irish law, platforms hosting adult material such as pornography or graphic violence must provide 'effective' age assurance mechanisms and/or parental controls to ensure minors are not exposed to inappropriate content. However, the law does not mandate a specific method of age verification. This mirrors the UK's approach for age checks on pornographic platforms, , where companies may choose their verification method but are guided by a regulatory code outlining appropriate standards – explicitly stating that self-declaration is not valid. Spain Spain's draft bill on protecting minors online aims to restrict social media access for children under 16. The proposed legislation would set 16 as the minimum age for creating a social media account. For age verification, a government spokesperson said Spain has developed a digital wallet app – cartera digital beta – which aligns with the Commission's prototype. By participating in the pilot, Spain also hopes to assess the app's interoperability with national systems. Greece Greece has not proposed or supported a blanket social media ban for minors, according to a government spokesperson. However, the country is moving forward with a hybrid approach combining age verification and parental controls, following its earlier support for a Europe-wide digital majority age. Greece has developed and launched its own age-check app, Kids Wallet . The downloadable app uses parents' digital IDs to approve or deny their child's request to access social media. The process involves parents validating the identity linked to the child's profile on the digital ID app. Third-party applications may also retrieve the child's age via API with parental consent, the spokesperson said. Greece's softer stance on teen social media access is backed by social media giant Meta, which is running its own EU-wide campaign on age verification. The Greek spokesperson told us that Meta supports its approach, which requires parental consent for teens to use social media platforms. (nl, aw)
Time Business News
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Global Indices in Transition: IGW Management Reviews Market Movements
As we move through mid-2025, stock markets across the world are reacting to a landscape shaped by shifting monetary policies, geopolitical developments, and evolving investor sentiment. While some regions have shown resilience, others face mounting economic pressures that could impact performance in the months ahead. From advanced economies in the West to key Asian markets, the picture remains dynamic and often unpredictable. Analysts at IGW Management have been closely tracking the state of several leading indices, providing insight into what's driving movement across global equity benchmarks. Alt-text: global stock markets in 2025 Source: The U.S. stock market continues to hover near historic highs, buoyed by robust tech sector earnings and persistent enthusiasm around AI innovation. The S&P 500 is up around 4% YTD, but recent debates around tariff policy and fiscal tightening have introduced new layers of uncertainty. IGW Management analysts point out that while investor optimism remains strong, the market is becoming increasingly sensitive to domestic policy decisions and global trade shifts. This makes it more vulnerable to short-term swings, drawing attention to flexible approaches like index CFD trading. Germany's DAX is one of the major outperforming indices in 2025, even as the country grapples with subdued economic growth projections. Industrial production has faced pressure due to weakening demand, but export-driven sectors and EU-wide green investment programs have helped support market confidence. Alt-text: German DAX bull market Source: According to IGW Management, the interplay between a stable euro and ongoing fiscal support from Brussels has kept investors engaged. As with other European benchmarks, index CFDs are increasingly used by traders seeking agility amid regional macro shifts. The FTSE 100 reached record territory in June, reflecting strong dividends and growing expectations of a rate cut by the Bank of England. Yet, beneath the surface, uncertainties surrounding weak productivity data have led to cautious positioning. Experts note that the U.K. market's sensitivity to both political change and currency movement has made short-term strategies more prominent. In this context, index CFD trading provides one potential method to stay responsive to sudden moves without long-term commitments. Japan's equity markets continue their upward trajectory, powered by corporate governance reforms, a favorable export climate, and accommodative monetary policy. The Nikkei 225 has traded close to record highs in recent months, supported in part by the yen's weakness against major currencies. Analysts observe that Japan presents a unique case where domestic reform and international macro trends intersect. Index CFDs linked to Japanese indices have seen growing interest from traders monitoring these interlinked forces. Across all major markets, 2025 is proving to be a year of transition, marked not by clear trends but by fluctuating conditions and nuanced investor behavior. IGW Management suggests that tracking these shifts closely and understanding their drivers is essential for staying ahead in this environment. With equity benchmarks reacting quickly to policy, sentiment, and global developments, tools like index CFDs are increasingly part of the conversation for those seeking adaptability in the face of change. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Many EU countries endorse Commission's migrant outsourcing plans
EU home affairs ministers meeting in Copenhagen on Tuesday have broadly endorsed two recent controversial proposals by the European Commission designed to curb irregular migration into the bloc. These proposals - dubbed 'innovative solutions' by the Commission - involve outsourcing to third countries asylum seekers and migrants whose claims have been rejected. 'We need to make innovative solutions and new agreements with countries outside of the European Union', said Kaare Dybvad Bek, Minister for Immigration and Integration of Denmark, which is currently chairing the EU. 'I've had good discussions with colleagues, a lot of similar opinions across the table, and I hope that we can make some progress in the coming six months.' A UK-Rwanda style policy By changing the EU definition of "safe third countries", member states would be allowed to dismiss asylum applications without consideration, and transfer applicants overseas, even if the migrant has no connection to the place in question. A 'safe third country' is a non-EU country where a person seeking international protection is treated according to 'international standards', and safeguards include the protection of asylum seekers from persecution and serious harm, the respect of the principle of non-refoulement, and the possibility to have access to a functioning asylum system. Under the Commission's proposal, no form of connection between the third country and the applicant meant to be transferred there is required. The change could therefore result in partnership with non-EU countries, similar to the UK's Rwanda deportation policy, which was ruled unlawful by the UK's Supreme Court. Previously considered taboo, many countries have now come around to the idea, according to the Danish Minister for Immigration. 'A lot of member states changed their position in these areas. I remember when I was a new minister in this Council three years ago, it was a bit uphill, I think, to try to introduce innovative solutions. [...] Now we see there's been a lot of countries that changed their position either because they changed their mind or because there's a new government,' said Dybvad Bek. While most countries seem to agree with the proposal, more opposition is expected from the European Parliament, with Socialists and democrats, Greens/EFA and The Left group traditionally against stricter rules on migration. Return hubs gaining traction The other innovative idea, enshrined in the return regulation, would enable member states to transfer rejected asylum seekers to 'return hubs' outside the EU, while completing the paperwork to get them returned to their countries of origin. The Commission's proposal does not foresee an EU-wide programme to build these deportation centres, but it lays the necessary legal groundwork to allow governments to strike arrangements with countries outside the bloc that might be willing to host migrants in return for financial incentives. Two centres built in Albania by the Italian government, initially meant to host asylum seekers, have been converted into return centres and could serve as a model. Other countries could follow suit with similar schemes, as suggested by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. 'France has constitutional obstacles [on some measures], but we don't have any on return centres. And I'm in favour of anything that makes returns more efficient." Migration is a priority for Denmark, which would probably push the Commission's proposals forward, especially the return regulation: 'We hope to reach a general agreement on return policy within our presidency,' the Danish Minister said. The Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner considered Denmark 'very aligned' with the Commission's agenda over the next six months. He declined to pin a concrete target on the effective return rate of rejected migrants from EU countries, to be reached after the approval of the return regulation. Many countries seem to be on board with the Commission's proposals. Austria, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Poland recently signed a common declaration to beef up migrant returns, strengthen external borders, and build partnerships with third countries.
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Health
- Euractiv
Wild Animals Not Pets – The Case for an EU Positive List
Health This video captures highlights from the event: Wild Animals Not Pets – The Case for an EU Positive List. A gathering of policymakers, experts, and animal welfare advocates at the European Parliament to discuss the trade in wild animals and its implications for welfare, health, and biodiversity | 22 Jul 2025 | 12:00 | 1 min. read | video This video captures highlights from the event: Wild Animals Not Pets – The Case for an EU Positive List. A gathering of policymakers, experts, and animal welfare advocates at the European Parliament to discuss the trade in wild animals and its implications for welfare, health, and biodiversity. Speakers reflected on the importance of: Establishing an EU-wide positive list of species permitted as pets Addressing the risks wild animal trade poses to animal welfare, public health, and biodiversity Tackling fragmented national rules and the need for harmonised EU legislation Strengthening EU animal welfare frameworks to better protect wild species At a time when animal welfare and biodiversity face increasing pressures, these insights point to the need for coherent, science-based policies that safeguard both animals and society. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project More from this section
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
It's crystal clear that an unregulated digital world carries far too many risks for the young
An EU-wide survey published last month, found that overall, one in three Europeans surveyed were concerned that there were insufficient online protections for children and young people. Digging a little deeper, Irish people were more sanguine than the average European about how digital rights and principles were applied, with almost half of those questioned in Ireland (49%) being satisfied compared to a European average of 42%. And yet, for those who care for and work for and with children, and have seen the harms that can occur, it is crystal clear that the digital world carries far too many risks for children and young people. Regulating tech platforms to produce systems and material that do not harm children is an ongoing topic at both Irish government and regulator level, and at EU level too. Now, in this second half of July, some important advances have been made. After long deliberations, the European Commission issued guidelines on Monday, July 14, to a wide number of tech platforms setting out how they are to apply EU legislation – particularly the Digital Services Act – to better protect children and young people from engaging with illegal and harmful content online. While the Act was there already, these guidelines are more practical, more precise, with clearer emphasis on ensuring children's human rights and equality are respected. They emphasise that platforms must identify how risky their content is to children, and then take practical and workable steps so that children don't access it. They will have to ensure that their recommender systems – which control things like the 'For You' function on apps – is stricter for young people on the company's site. They must have practical, effective age assurance systems to stop children from accessing inappropriate content. In a nutshell, the privacy, safety and security of the child and their best interest is to be central to the platform's consideration. Meanwhile back at home, the second and final section of Coimisiún na Meán's Online Safety Code comes into effect today. This applies to a smaller number of companies but includes some of the largest social media companies, which have their European headquarters in Ireland. Those companies have had obligations under the first part of the Online Safety Code since last November which meant that they were obliged to take steps to protect children and young people from content which could "impair their physical mental or moral development". The second part of the code, going live today, puts specific obligations on companies to effectively prevent children from accessing adult-only content such as pornography and to have good parental control and flagging systems. While we would want to see the regulators playing a much stronger role in enforcing uniform, high safety standards, rather than each platform setting its own rules, these requirements will mean that there will be better protections for children and young people using these online platforms/services. At the end of the day, that is progress. While tech companies, for the most part, will say that they welcome fair regulation, there is some restiveness. Coimisiún na Meán, the Irish regulator, has had to issue a formal notice to X – formerly Twitter - to say that it's not satisfied with the information X has submitted about the protection of young people on its platform. And the same company is challenging the regulator about whether the entire code should apply to it at all. A step forward These regulatory changes come with few fireworks and clashing cymbals, but they need to be acknowledged. They are a step forward. They also need to be widely known. They will have to be monitored and implemented by Coimisiún na Meán but the rest of us – caregivers, educators, child rights organisations and advocates - will also need to know what's there to highlight discrepancies, to complain about breaches, to require the tech platforms to be a bit more responsible for children's safety. We will also have to continue to highlight that while technology is with us and brings great benefits to everyone including children and young people, tech platforms and those who are in the business of making sometimes extraordinary profits from selling their digital products and advertising to us, must do it in a way that is decent and fair. We will need to be a lot less complacent than the recent survey shows we have been about the welfare and rights of our children. And we will need to continue to insist that our government and our regulators continue to scrutinise the tech industry to ensure the safety and rights of children and young people in Ireland in this, our digital world. Noeline Blackwell is the Online Safety Co-Ordinator with the Children's Rights Alliance
