Greek Parliament approves ban on social media access for children under 15 from 1 January 2027
Parliament passed the measure after more than 16 hours of debate; platforms must introduce secure age checks.
The Greek Parliament approved a law that will ban access to social media for children under 15 years of age starting on 1 January 2027. The draft was submitted by state minister Akis Skertsos and was passed by a parliamentary majority after debates that lasted more than 16 hours.
Under the new rules, social media platforms will be required to put in place reliable age‑verification mechanisms to prevent users under 15 from accessing covered services. The legislation specifies that verification must be secure and carried out in line with data protection requirements.
The Greek government said its own digital tools — the apps Kids Wallet and Gov.gr Wallet — may be used for age checks, alongside other technical solutions that comply with national and European law.
Verification without revealing personal details
The system presented by the government allows platforms to confirm whether a user is above or below the set age threshold without disclosing the exact date of birth or additional personal data. Lawmakers emphasized the need to balance child protection with privacy safeguards.
The move comes amid broader discussions inside the European Union about tougher online protections for minors. The EU proposal known as the "Children's Code" foresees rules extending beyond social networks to video‑sharing platforms, online games, app stores and certain artificial intelligence services.
Implementation of the new Greek restrictions is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.
Photo: press material from the event
