Following the European Parliament’s 2025 report on the protection of children online, Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee (IMCO), together with EU institutions and stakeholders, discusses how existing rules are working, where gaps remain, and what further action may be needed to better protect minors using online services and digital platforms.
Although recent EU rules, including the Digital Services Act, have strengthened online protections, challenges remain. Different approaches to enforcement across countries and ongoing harmful online practices can leave children exposed to risks.
The first panel examines how current legislation is being applied in practice, looking at enforcement, cross-border cooperation and the use of guidelines designed to protect minors online. Among the speakers are representatives from the European Commission, META, the European Consumer Organisation (BEU) and Centre for Democracy and Technology (CDT) Europe.
The second panel focuses on possible improvements to the legal framework, exploring whether new policies or legislation are needed to protect children more consistently across the EU. Speakers include representatives from the European Commission, European Digital Rights (EDRi) , DOT Europe (representing leading internet companies) and Kids Unplugged Belgium.