European Commission calls for input on its guidelines on the protection of minors online

From 31 July to 30 September 2024, the EC's Call for Evidence is open, collecting suggestions for the forthcoming guidelines on the enforcement of the protection of minors online under Article 28(4) of the DSA
Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on the single market for digital services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC).

These EC guidelines shall detail the appropriate measures that should be taken by online platform providers (including very large platforms and online search engines) to address the protection of minors in the online space. The guidelines will focus in particular on the obligation for platforms to assess risks and their impact on children. The EC intends to use the '5C' risk typology (i.e. content, conduct, contact and consumer risks, as well as cross-cutting risks). The guidelines will apply to all online platforms, including adult content platforms, which may have insufficient or non-existent age verification tools.

The professional public, as well as relevant authorities and citizens, now have the opportunity to comment on the EC's basic intentions. In addition to a general request for themes and ideas to be reflected in the forthcoming guidelines, the EC also lists in the call the main issues on which it is appropriate to comment:

• What are the significant risks and concerns related to ensuring a high level of privacy, security and protection of minors online?
• Do you agree with the proposed use of the "5C" risk typology and the proposed factors that each platform should take into account (such as content moderation systems, the design of algorithmic systems, account settings and age-based defaults, advertising selection and presentation systems, etc.)?
• What other factors should be assessed in the context of the impact assessment on minors?
• Do you recommend any particular methodology, metrics, structural indicators and/or thresholds that should be used and included in the impact assessment on minors?
• There is also space to provide experiences and recommendations on risks according to the "5C" typology.

Suggestions shall be sent to the Commission by 30 September 2024 via the form on the EC portal. To fill it in, you need to register in the EU login system. Registration is open to everyone and the account can be used for all EC consultations.