Children’s online safety – from bans to proactive protection

Question for written answer E-001583/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Friedrich Pürner (NI)

Children's online safety is a growing concern. EU policy remains reliant on risk frameworks, access rules, bans and other control mechanisms. There is evidence to suggest that restrictions, bans and monitoring are ineffective or even counterproductive[1]. Applying the same restrictions to very different technologies and to children of different ages and in different stages of development can weaken trust, limit children's rights and agency, and push digital consumption into other online spaces.

An evidence-based approach would 1) use scientific instruments to assess and improve design options, 2) anticipate risks and treat children's safety as a proactive design challenge and 3) establish preventative guardrails that protect children while also supporting their rights, agency and well-being.

• 1.Is the Commission, jointly with the Member States, considering a proactive and systematic approach, recognising children as active participants?
• 2.Is the Commission considering aligning its policy with evidence that supports the promotion of rights, safety and privacy by design, as reflected in international legal instruments?
• 3.Is the Commission considering increasing support for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research to close gaps in understanding the interplay between risks, opportunities and digital environments?

Submitted: 16.4.2026

• [1] Cortesi, S., & Gasser, U. (2026). Digital child safety at the frontier: From evidence to action. Science (New York, N.Y.), 392(6793), 30-32. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec7804.