Spain has joined four other EU nations in trialling a new age-verification app designed to protect minors online, as part of a broader initiative tied to the European Digital Identity Wallet and the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The pilot project, announced by the European Commission, will run until the end of the year and aims to test secure, privacy-respecting methods to confirm a user’s age before they can access age-restricted content or platforms. Spain, along with Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, will lead the testing phase across different digital environments, from social media and streaming services to online games and e-commerce platforms.
The system will integrate with the EU Digital Identity Wallet, a secure smartphone application being developed across member states to allow citizens to manage their identity, driving licence, and key certifications. In this pilot, the wallet will generate anonymous age tokens — verifying whether a user is above a certain threshold (e.g. 13, 16, or 18) without disclosing other personal information such as name or date of birth.
The app is being tested on a voluntary basis and does not store data centrally, in line with strict European data protection standards. Spanish authorities have already begun working on national adaptations to align with the Digital Services Act, which places legal responsibilities on platforms to minimise risks to underage users, including targeted advertising and access to harmful content.
EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, called the pilot a “major step towards digital responsibility,” adding that “protecting our children online is a priority — but we must do so without building surveillance systems.”
Spain’s involvement follows recent concerns about online safety, bullying, and the mental health impact of digital platforms on minors. The government is also considering additional domestic legislation to bolster protections and improve parental oversight tools.
Digital rights organisations have cautiously welcomed the trial, but emphasise the need for transparency and accountability in implementation, to avoid misuse or technical barriers for legitimate users.
If successful, the trial could pave the way for EU-wide deployment of secure age-verification technology as early as 2026.
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