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In an effort to protect children online, France has approved a new law requiring social media platforms like TikTok to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for those under 15 years.
The legislation which was approved on Thursday is part of a string of recent moves by the government to reduce children’s screen time and protect them from cyberbullying and other crimes.
The “landmark” law would be “applied as soon as possible”, Digital Transition Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers.
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But the exact date the age verification bill will come into force remains unclear following Thursday’s Senate approval, as no specific date was set and the European Commission has yet to check that it conforms with EU law.
Sites will then have a year to comply with the policy for new subscribers, and another two years to apply the requirements to existing users.
Lawmakers’ concerns ranged from pornography to cyberstalking, unattainable beauty standards and the attention-grabbing addictive nature of the platforms, which pose a particular risk for youth.
