Recital 2

A Special panel of experts on child safety online (‘Special Panel’) was established to provide advice to the Commission on a European approach on child safety online. The report of the Co-Chairs of the Special Panel was presented in July 2026 and is based on six guiding principles: a developmental approach, equality and diversity, protection of minors, accountability of digital services and consumer rights, empowerment and media education and children’s rights and participation. In particular, the report recommends EU-wide access restrictions to social media, harmonised safety-by-design rules for social media, other digital services, online games and certain AI systems accessible to minors as well as proportionate, privacy-preserving age assurance systems. The intention is to cover the entirety of the digital environment to ensure an effective and comprehensive protection of minors online (social media+).