ATHENS – [ANA-MPA]
The European Commission intends to establish a ‘mini-wallet’ within the summer to verify the age of Internet users, on the lines of Greece’s Kids Wallet application, as an interim solution until the European digital wallet is ready at the end of 2026, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Henna Virkkunen announced at the Council of Telecommunications Ministers in Luxembourg on June 6.
Virkkunen’s statement was a direct response to the non-paper presented by Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou on protecting the underaged from an addiction to the Internet. The non-paper was jointly signed by France, Spain, Denmark, Cyprus, Slovenia and Italy, while it was supported by Croatia, Slovakia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and partly so by Sweden and the Netherlands.
The non-paper was a Greek initiative and includes goals such as the design of digital systems, the introduction of age verification methods for access to digital services, and the definition of digital maturity.
After thanking his fellow-ministers for contributing to and/or supporting the non-paper, Papastergiou urged the speediness of agreeing on technologically sustainable and safe systems of age verification, with implementation “starting as soon as possible, I hope as of September”. Such verification would not just affect access to social media platforms, but also online markets for tobacco products and alcohol. “If we can provide this age verification tool, then every member-state will be able to implement its own policies”, he said.
Papastergiou made special reference to Greece’s ‘Kids Wallet’ app (https://kidswallet.gov.gr/) that could serve as a model and guideline for the European Union. It is a basic tool of Greece’s national strategy to protect younger people from becoming addicted to the Internet, it provides parental control options, and soon will incorporate safe age verification methods, the minister said. Greece is contributing to the European Commission’s ‘mini-wallet’, and it is hoped the non-paper will contribute to reviving the conversation regarding the protection of young people on the Internet, Papastergiou underlined.
