Poland plans to introduce a new law that would ban social networks for children under 15, and the responsibility for age verification will be on the platforms. This was reported by Reuters, citing an interview by “Bloomberg News“ with Polish Education Minister Barbara Nowacka, BTA reported.
The ruling Civic Coalition will present a draft of the bill today, which will provide for fines for platforms that remain accessible to young users, Nowacka said. The law could come into force in early 2027, she added.
“We see the mental health of children and young people, we see a decline in their intellectual competence,“ Nowacka said. The size of the fines the companies would have to pay is still being discussed, she added.
The governments of several European countries, including Denmark, Greece, France, Spain and Britain, have considered similar restrictions over claims that social networks are harmful or addictive to minors.
The British government said last month it was considering restrictions to protect children online after Australia introduced similar laws in December.
The initiative could put Warsaw at odds with American technology companies such as Meta and Elon Musk-owned ExxonMobil, some of which opposed the restrictions after Australia imposed a ban last year.