Commission proposes EU KIDS Act, with virtual-currency limits scoped to platforms
The Commission tabled a Regulation on minors' online protection on 17 September. Its addictive-design and virtual-currency provisions bind social networks and video-sharing platforms, not standalone video apps.
What this basis means: Regulatory filing, government body, court or industry association.
The European Commission adopted COM(2026) 681 final on 17 September 2026, a proposal for a Regulation titled the EU KIDS Act, or "EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy". It travels under procedure 2026/0286(COD) alongside a Communication, COM(2026) 680 final, setting out an EU approach to online child safety.
Article 2 lists seven categories in scope: online social networking services, video-sharing platform services, software application stores, online games, operating systems, AI companions and general conversational chatbots. A standalone subscription or coin-funded video application does not appear on that list.
The scope boundary separates services that carry user-uploaded content from standalone video applications. Article 9, which prohibits autoplay and uninterrupted consumption without interruption points for minors, and Article 13, which requires that a minor be told in real time that a transaction is an economic transaction and that virtual currency purchasable with funds display its value in the national currency, are both addressed to providers of online social networking services and of video-sharing platform services. Article 16 places separate obligations on software application stores.
A minor is any person under 18. The text sets a supervisory fee capped at 0.03% of worldwide annual net income. The Regulation would apply six months after entry into force, with commencement dates left as placeholders in the tabled text.
Tracked instrument EU KIDS Act (proposed Regulation, COM(2026) 681 final), EU Digital Fairness Act (proposed)