“In Europe, whoever develops the product is responsible for its safety. Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own safety seat belts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home, and the very same must be true for Big Tech,” said von der Leyen.
This line of thinking could put at least some aspects of child safety online into the realm of consumer protection, a set of rules the EU is also set to revamp later this year.
In the U.S., it was under consumer protection provisions that multiple companies have recently been found liable for knowingly endangering minors’ mental health in recent landmark trials.
3. Reaching beyond social media
The discussion and measures regarding age restrictions have so far focused on social media platforms, but the report also takes aim at other services, such as artificial intelligence companions, and naming the broader category “social media+.”
“What we recommend is not restrictions on access to certain platforms, but restrictions on access to certain types of features,” which can include video games platforms and AI chatbots,” the second expert said.
Features like algorithmic recommendation systems and infinite scrolling are “designed to maximise user attention,” and minors are not “equipped” to deal with their effects, the document reads.