Clicking a button to confirm you’re 18 might soon be history. Starting in July 2025, the EU is piloting a new age verification system in five countries: France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece 🌍.
This initiative is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA) ⚖️, which aims to make the online space safer for minors 👶 while respecting user privacy 🔒.
✅ What makes this system different?
Unlike the UK’s approach—which requires face scans 🧑💻 and even credit card data 💳—the EU’s model is designed to be privacy-friendly:
It only checks if you’re 18+ 🎉
❌ No ID photos
❌ No facial recognition
❌ No personal data stored
The system uses anonymous, open-source technology 🛠️, putting individual rights at the center.
⏰ Why now?
The move comes as pressure grows after the UK rolled out invasive methods for accessing adult content ⚠️. The EU wants to offer a more transparent and less intrusive alternative 🌱 that could become the new standard for digital age checks worldwide 🌐.
🔮 What’s next?
If successful, the pilot could expand to the entire EU by 2026 📅—potentially ending the era of the casual “Yes, I’m 18” click 🖱️.
💬 Your move:
Would you rather trust this EU model, or stick with face scans and ID checks? 🤔
