CDU/CSU Group Proposes Risk-Based Protection for Social Media Use
Germany's CDU/CSU parliamentary group has adopted a new protective policy for social media, emphasizing risk-based age limits and platform responsibility. The initiative aims to create a safer digital environment for children and adolescents.
Berlin – The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in Germany has introduced a new approach to regulating social media platforms. The group has adopted a policy paper focused on establishing a safer digital environment for children and adolescents. Rather than advocating for blanket bans, the CDU/CSU proposes a risk-based protection concept that emphasizes platform responsibility and differentiated age limits.
The new policy suggests that social media platforms should implement and enforce age restrictions tailored to the specific risks associated with each service or platform. According to the group, platform providers should be responsible for the technical enforcement of these age limits, potentially utilizing solutions like the EUDI wallet. The initiative also includes plans to strengthen media literacy, promote mental health, and enhance legal penalties for digital violence and crimes targeting children, such as cyber grooming and sextortion.
Platforms that consistently violate legal age limits or fail to promptly remove obviously illegal content could face legal consequences, including potential fines under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The CDU/CSU group has indicated its intention to work closely with Federal Family Minister Karin Prien and the governing coalition partner to enact concrete measures in the fall.
The policy paper, titled "Protection of Children and Adolescents in the Digital World," highlights the need for regulation to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. Instead of applying simple, universal age limits, the proposal seeks to ensure that protective measures are better aligned with the diverse and evolving nature of online services.