Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen said on Friday that the EU executive branch is demanding information from US platforms Apple, Snapchat, Google, and YouTube over allegations of insufficient child protection.

While the European Union has strict regulations governing online spaces, including limits on what children can access online, concern is growing that current measures are not enough to address the problem.

What has the EU said about online child protection?

European Union legislation "clearly says that when minors are using online services, very high levels of privacy, security, and safety have to be ensured," Virkkunen stated.

"This is not always the case," she added, as she arrived at a meeting of EU ministers in charge of telecommunications in the Danish city of Horsens.

"Just today, we have sent requests for information on four online platforms. To Snapchat, to YouTube, to Apple Store and Google Play, also to look at what kind of practices they are taking to protect minors online," she added.

What could happen next?

After reviewing the information, if the commission suspects an infringement of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), it may open formal proceedings.

If a breach of EU rules is established by the commission, fines of up to 6% of a company's global turnover can be imposed.

The DSA requires platforms to promptly remove illegal content from their sites and offer users the option to report it. Large services must follow stricter rules than smaller ones.

"The online world is a very important part of our everyday life," Virkkunen said. "Kids also have the right to access to information and to be in contact with their friends."

However, online services have the responsibility to ensure the safety of minors, she added.

What does the EU want to know?

The European Commission suspects that age restrictions for children and young people on the video platform YouTube, which is owned by Google, are too easy to circumvent.

It also aims to determine the extent to which YouTube's algorithms could cause addiction in children.

In addition, the commission aims to clarify whether minors can access gambling apps, such as online casino apps, through the Apple Store and Google Play.

Regarding Snapchat, the commission suspects that minors can buy drugs on the social network and that the company is not enforcing its age limit of 13 years old.

These are not the first demands under the DSA. Brussels is also investigating Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, due to concerns that they are not doing enough to address the addictive nature of their platforms for children.

The DSA has already caused tensions between the EU and the United States. US President Donald Trump has criticized EU legislation as anti-competitive.

Edited by: Richard Connor