By Atlantic Reports

The Greek government has unveiled draft legislation to prohibit children under 15 from accessing certain social media platforms from January 1, 2027.

The proposal would require platforms to verify users’ ages, ministers told a news conference in Athens on Monday. It remains draft legislation, rather than an enacted ban.

Minister for Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou said the initial restrictions would target Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, although the list could be revised.

The government said the measures were intended to protect children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features that encourage excessive use. It also said children would retain access to digital services needed for communication, education and everyday activities.

Age checks and enforcement

Papastergiou said the legislation would operate within the European Union’s Digital Services Act framework. He added that platforms breaching applicable rules could face fines of up to six per cent of their global annual turnover.

However, the announcement did not explain how age verification would work, what information users would need to provide or how that information would be protected.

Those details will be important for families and platforms, particularly in determining how restrictions can be enforced while safeguarding users’ privacy.

Minister of State Akis Skertsos said the proposal had been developed in consultation with relevant European authorities to ensure compliance with EU rules.

He also said Greece intended to become the first European country to introduce comparable legislation. That was the government’s stated ambition, rather than an established outcome.

Protecting children while preserving access

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis joined Skertsos and Papastergiou at the announcement.

The proposed restrictions follow other Greek government measures aimed at protecting minors, including a ban on mobile phone use in schools and the development of digital tools for children’s online safety.

The announcement also referred to a proposed EU KIDS Act, which it said remained under consideration through the EU legislative process.

For children and parents, a central question is how the final legislation will distinguish restricted social media use from permitted communication and educational services. The draft’s passage, enforcement arrangements and practical scope remain key steps before the planned January start.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.