Greece to fine platforms that fail to block under-15s from social media

Greece will impose fines on major social media companies that fail to restrict access for users under 15, starting January 1, 2027. The measure was approved by Parliament and signed into law by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It targets TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

The law requires these platforms to implement age-verification systems that are both reliable and proportionate. Companies that do not meet these standards face financial penalties under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Mitsotakis called the bill difficult but necessary for the digital market.

Enforcement falls partly on parents, who must download state-backed applications called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr. These apps pair with a child’s device to block access to the restricted networks. The system uses age tokens to confirm a user's age while collecting minimal personal data.

Digital governance minister Dimitris Papastergiou argued against waiting for a unified European rule. He stated that a responsible government must act now rather than waiting for the perfect law. Papastergiou noted that children are sinking into the internet daily, requiring immediate intervention.

The legislation passed with the support of Mitsotakis’s government majority. Minority parties opposed the bill, but opinion polls show broad support among Greek adults. Greece previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2024.

The European Commission recently introduced the EU Kids Act, which proposes an outright ban only for children under 13. Mitsotakis said his government aims to push the EU toward stricter rules. Greece’s approach now serves as a test case for age-verification methods that Australia found challenging to implement.

The new law creates a specific compliance burden for tech firms operating in the Greek market. They must integrate with state apps or build their own verification systems to avoid fines. The transition period begins in October and runs until the new year.