Age Assurance Builds: Where Does Ireland Stand?

Age assurance has moved from the margins of online safety policy to its centre.

At William Fry, our Technology team is closely tracking a fast-moving space in which European governments are no longer asking only how platforms should protect children online, but also whether children should be allowed on certain platforms at all. Three developments in recent weeks capture the shift: France has legislated to keep under-15s off social media, the UK has set out plans for age-based restrictions and overnight curfews for teenagers, and the European Commission (Commission) is now preparing to legislate itself, shifting from risk management towards restricting access.

For any business offering digital services in Europe, the direction of travel is unmistakable, but the destinations are not yet aligned. Divergent national timelines and standards are emerging faster than the EU can harmonise them. This raises an obvious question closer to home: where does all of this leave Ireland, and what