Dutch Parliament questions risks of online age verification

Members of the Dutch House of Representatives have submitted parliamentary questions regarding the risks associated with large-scale online age verification. The inquiry, led by MP Keijzer, follows a statement from 438 security and privacy researchers from 32 countries warning of potential harms.

The questions urge the government to avoid irreversible steps toward mandatory European age verification until sufficient empirical evidence exists regarding its effectiveness, potential circumvention, and unintended consequences. Concerns were raised regarding how such measures might impact privacy, freedom of information, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity.

Specifically, the inquiry asks for scientific evidence that a European minimum age and mandatory verification actually reduce harm to minors. It also questions the necessity and proportionality of government-mandated age limits versus parental discretion for social media use.