Special Panel on Child Safety Online Calls for a Safer Digital Environment for Children

Special Panel on Child Safety Online Calls for a Safer Digital Environment for Children

In July 2026, the European Commission’s Special Panel on Child Safety Online published its final report, Child Safety Online: Protecting and Empowering Minors in a Digital World. The panel was established by Ursula von der Leyen following her 2025 State of the Union Address and brought together experts in child health, psychology, neuroscience, digital technologies, child rights, education and digital literacy, alongside youth and parent representatives. 

The report takes a balanced approach, recognising that digital technologies can support learning, creativity, participation and social connection, while also exposing children to risks such as harmful content, inappropriate contacts, cyberbullying, addictive platform features and excessive screen use. It proposes a comprehensive framework aimed at both protecting and empowering minors online

• Safety should be built into digital services: The report argues that online platforms and technology providers should bear primary responsibility for children’s safety through “safety by design” and “safety by default” approaches, ensuring that protections are embedded into services from the outset.
• Protections should reflect children’s age and development: Rather than treating all minors alike, the panel recommends a developmental approach that tailors safeguards according to children’s age, maturity and specific vulnerabilities.
• Precautionary age restrictions may be necessary: The report concludes that, until providers can demonstrate that their services are safe for minors, precautionary age restrictions should be considered, including restricting access for children under the age of 13 across the EU.
• Parents and educators need more support: The panel highlights the importance of equipping parents, caregivers, teachers and educators with the tools, resources and digital literacy skills needed to support children in navigating the online world safely.
• Children should be empowered, not only protected: Alongside protective measures, the report stresses the need to help children develop the critical thinking, digital literacy and resilience required to benefit from the opportunities offered by digital technologies.
• Child safety requires a whole-of-society approach: The report underlines that effective online protection depends on coordinated action from governments, regulators, technology companies, schools, families and children themselves.
• Attention to vulnerable groups, including children with disabilities: The panel specifically calls for approaches that take account of children’s different circumstances and vulnerabilities, including factors such as age, socioeconomic background and individual support needs. While children with disabilities are not the primary focus of the report, its rights-based and developmental approach emphasises the need for digital environments, safety measures and educational resources that are accessible and appropriate for all children, including those who may face additional barriers online.

The report has already helped shape the EU debate on child online safety and serves as an important foundation for subsequent initiatives such as the proposed EU Kids Act, which seeks to create a safer and more age-appropriate digital environment for children across Europe.

More information on Report “Child Safety Online: Protecting and Empowering Minors in a Digital World” available here.