EU to launch age‑verification app for online content, not an internet passport

The European Commission plans to introduce a voluntary age‑verification application by the end of 2026 to help protect minors from unsuitable online content. Users will confirm their age once with an official document; the app will then only indicate whether the age threshold for a service is met, without transmitting personal data such as name or birthdate. The system is intended to be open‑source and integrated into national digital‑identity schemes where adopted.

Social‑media posts have falsely claimed the EU is creating a mandatory “internet passport” and intends to ban VPNs. Those claims stem from a misinterpretation of a parliamentary research note on how VPNs could be used to bypass age checks. EU officials, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and technology‑sovereignty commissioner Henna Virkkunen, have clarified that no VPN ban is proposed and that the focus is on making age verification harder to circumvent, not on restricting internet freedom.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to a free and open internet, while acknowledging ongoing debate about the effectiveness and rollout timeline of the age‑verification tool.