Portugal's parliament debates new digital safety rules for minors and identity‑theft crime

In Lisbon, the Portuguese Order of Psychologists (OPP) presented a position to the Assembly's Committee on Rights, Liberties and Guarantees, urging a comprehensive approach to protect children and young people online. The OPP called for enhanced digital literacy, development of socio‑emotional skills, and "digital parenting" that balances supervision with autonomy. It also advocated for platform design regulation and larger scientific studies to assess long‑term impacts.

Separately, the director of the Polícia Judiciária, Carlos Cabreiro, testified before the same parliamentary body, supporting the creation of a specific crime of digital identity usurpation to combat theft of social‑media accounts. His comments align with the PSD‑proposed bill that would raise the minimum age for unrestricted social‑media access to 16, require verified parental consent for users aged 13‑15, and tighten safeguards against online risks.

Both speakers are contributing to the same legislative effort to modernise Portugal's legal framework for online safety, combining education, regulation, and criminal provisions aimed at protecting minors and addressing cyber‑crime.