European Commission Announces Technical Readiness of Digital Age Verification App
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Executive Vice-President Virkkunen announced the technical readiness of a new digital age verification application designed to protect children online. The announcement, made in Brussels on April 15, 2026, cited concerning statistics on online bullying as a key rationale for the tool.
Statement on Online Harms
In the statement, the Commission officials presented data on the scale of online risks facing children. They stated that one child in six is bullied online. Furthermore, they reported that one child in eight is bullying another child online. The statement also described social media platforms as offering highly addictive designs, such as infinite scrolling, though it did not quantify specific addiction levels. These figures underscore the urgent need for protective measures in the digital environment, according to the Commission's assessment.
Official Announcement
The central announcement from the Commission was that the age verification application is now technically prepared for deployment. ‘No more excuses’: Von der Leyen says EU age checking app is ready, as reported by Politico.eu, capturing the President's declaration. The statement, issued by the European Commission, framed the app's readiness as a direct response to the documented online safety issues. This development represents a significant milestone in the legislative process surrounding the EU's proposed rules for online platforms.
The technical completion of the app marks a procedural step in the European Union's broader digital policy agenda focused on child protection. The Commission's statement provides the official institutional position on the status of this specific tool. The next phases will involve further legislative discussion and implementation planning by member states, building upon this technical foundation.