Deputy Digital Affairs Minister Michał Gramatyka said the government would enhance its mObywatel app—Poland’s official digital ID platform—allowing users to confirm their age without revealing additional personal data.
The move will make it possible to restrict children’s access to social media, Gramatyka told lawmakers.
The new feature is expected to be launched by next Christmas and comply with EU regulations.
Gramatyka said that early exposure to digital devices is a problem, pointing to social platforms’ failure to enforce minimum age rules.
Despite terms banning users under 13, many parents allow their children to bypass these restrictions to maintain contact with peers.
Gramatyka said that while some countries, such as Australia, have passed regulations assigning responsibility to platforms, those rules—including biometric scanning and behavioral profiling—are not easily transferable to Polish or EU law.
He added that any system restricting minors’ access would also require verifying all users’ identities when logging into social media.
Poland's governing centrist Civic Coalition (KO) is drafting a bill to ban children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, planning to wrap up the effort by the end of February.
Most Poles believe children should start using social media later than they do now, citing concerns over excessive use and online safety risks, according to a new survey.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP