EU demands US tech giants comply on child protections

Summary

The European Commission has issued Requests for Information (RFIs) to Google, YouTube, Apple and Snapchat as part of an effort to enforce Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The RFIs seek detailed proof of how these platforms protect minors from harmful content, prevent targeted advertising to under-18s and apply privacy and safety-by-default design. EU officials, led by Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and President Ursula von der Leyen, are pushing a wider agenda to make digital services ‘child-safe by design’ while EU ministers prepare the Jutland Declaration to harmonise protections across member states.

The move sits against a backdrop of national laws (UK Online Safety Act, France’s parental consent for under-15s, Germany’s NetzDG, Denmark’s access limits) and growing transatlantic tensions: US tech firms complain about compliance costs and regulatory overreach, and US political actors have flagged the DSA in trade disputes. The Commission has not yet launched formal proceedings but warned that incomplete or unsatisfactory responses could trigger investigations and possible enforcement action.

Key Points

The EU has sent RFIs to Google, YouTube, Apple and Snapchat to gather evidence on child-protection measures under the DSA.
Article 28 of the DSA obliges platforms to implement proportionate safeguards, age assurance, and privacy-by-design for services accessed by minors.
Platforms must stop targeted advertising to under-18s and adjust algorithms to avoid exposing minors to harmful content (self-harm, eating disorders, gambling, extreme political content).
National laws across Europe (UK, France, Germany, Denmark) are creating a fragmented regulatory landscape even as the EU seeks bloc-wide alignment via the Jutland Declaration.
US tech firms argue the DSA imposes high costs and risks conflict with US free-speech norms; tensions have spilled into trade discussions with Washington.
The Commission hasn’t yet announced penalties, but has signalled that formal investigations could follow if responses to RFIs are inadequate.

Context and relevance

This development is pivotal for platforms, advertisers and regulators. For tech companies it means nearer-term scrutiny on product design, recommendation systems and ad targeting policies across Europe. For advertisers and publishers, duty-of-care rules will affect how campaigns are scoped and audience-targeted. Regulators and legal teams should track responses to the RFIs and any subsequent investigations, as outcomes will shape compliance costs, product changes and cross-border enforcement priorities in 2026 and beyond.

Why should I read this?

Quick version: the EU is turning up the heat. If you work with platforms, ads, content moderation or compliance in Europe, this affects you — and fast. It cuts through the noise on national rule-making and shows Brussels is prepared to press big US firms for proof they’re protecting kids, not just talking about it.

Author style

Punchy: this is a major regulatory moment that could materially change how platforms operate in Europe. If you care about compliance costs, ad targeting practices or platform product design — this is worth a closer read.