Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 1288
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0233/GR
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20261288.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0233 GR EN 08-05-2026 GR NOTIF
2. Greece
3A. ΕΛΟΤ, ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΗΣΗΣ ΟΔΗΓΙΑΣ 98/34/Ε.Ε, ΚΗΦΙΣΟΥ 50, 121 33 ΠΕΡΙΣΤΕΡΙ, ΑΘΗΝΑ, Τ/Φ: + 30210- 2120104, Τ/Ο: + 30210- 2120131
3B. Υπουργείο Ψηφιακής Διακυβέρνησης,Γενική Γραμματεία Τηλεπικοινωνιών και Ταχυδρομείων,
Γενική Διεύθυνση Τηλεπικοινωνιών και Ταχυδρομείων,Διεύθυνση Τεχνολογικού Εξοπλισμού και Εγκαταστάσεων, Φραγκούδη 11 & Αλεξάνδρου Πάντου, Καλλιθέα 101 63,Τηλ.: +30 210 9098852, αρμ.: κ. Α. Παλιάτσος, e-mail:a.paliatsos@mindigital.gr
4. 2026/0233/GR - SERV60 - Internet services
5. Notification to the European Commission of the draft provisions on the establishment of an
age limit for the use of online social networking services, in accordance with the procedures
laid down in Presidential Decree 81/2018.
6. Establishment of an age limit for the use of online social networking services
7.
8. The proposed provisions aim to establish a clear age limit for access to these services, with the primary objective of protecting the health of minors from risks associated with the design and operation of online social networking services.
In particular, a ‘digital age of majority’ rule is introduced, under which access to
online social networking services is not permitted before the user reaches the age of fifteen (15), and compliance with this requirement is to be ensured through reliable age-verification mechanisms. This limit is in line with the national framework for the protection of personal data (Law 4624/2019) with regard to the age of consent for information society services and corresponds to a critical stage of adolescence, during which minors gradually develop greater autonomy, while still requiring enchansed protection in the digital environment.
Furthermore, the regulatory provisions have been designed in a manner compatible with EU law, and in particular with Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act), as well as with the
guidelines on the protection of minors published by the European Commission in the summer of 2025 pursuant to Article 28(4) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on Digital Services. These provisions do not, however, introduce new stand-alone obligations for online platform providers and do not establish a parallel or autonomous national monitoring and sanctions mechanism.
9. A. Notification requirement and the TRIS procedure
In accordance with Presidential Decree 81/2018 and in particular Article 6(1) thereof, public authorities and bodies preparing draft technical rules are required to notify them to the European Commission, via the ELOT Information Centre, before their adoption. The proposed draft provisions fall within the scope of the aforementioned Presidential Decree, insofar as they introduce arrangements concerning access to information society services and are directly linked to the operation of online platforms. It is therefore necessary to notify the attached draft provisions in advance via the TRIS mechanism, prior to their adoption and entry into force.
B. Reasons justifying the draft provisions in accordance with Article 6(1) of Presidential Decree
81/2018
The drafting of the proposed provisions is dictated by compelling reasons of public interest, based on a documented assessment of the risks associated with the use of these services by minors, and in particular on the need to protect their mental health and healthy development in the digital environment. Early and intensive use of online social networking services, which are designed to encourage continuous user engagement, tends to lead to addictive patterns of use and negative health effects among minors. The provisions are not intended to impose a blanket ban on minors’ access to the internet, nor to prevent the use of educational or informational services, but rather to provide for the targeted regulation of services that present an increased risk due to their design characteristics.
9a. The proposed measure, namely the introduction of an age limit of 15 for access to online social networking services, aims to address the risk arising from the early and intensive exposure of minors to online social networking services that incorporate design features which encourage continuous use and may lead to addictive behaviour and access to inappropriate content, with a potential negative impact on their health. This connection is also confirmed by available research data. According to a nationwide survey by the Greek Safer Internet Centre (Safeline, 2025), one in four pupils reports they use social networks excessively and that they need help to cut down. Children’s online habits in Greece: 2025 nationwide survey explores challenges in implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA)
The measure is targeted, as it relates exclusively to online social networking services and does not entail a general restriction of minors’ access to the internet or to educational and informational services. Furthermore, the choice of the 15-year age limit is not arbitrary but is in line with the existing data protection framework in Greece, where the age limit for parental consent regarding information society services under the law implementing the GDPR, namely Law 4624/2019, has already been set at 15 years. Furthermore, this corresponds to a critical stage of adolescence, during which minors gradually develop greater autonomy, while still requiring enhanced protection in the digital environment.
The proposed measure is not introduced in isolation, but forms part of a coherent and expanding framework of state action for the protection of minors in the digital environment. At national level, the measure ties in with existing provisions, such as the ban on the use of mobile phones within school buildings, the introduction of the Kids Wallet as a parental supervision tool, the Ministry of Health’s targeted interventions to tackle digital addiction in mental health facilities, and the Ministry of Education’s educational programmes on internet safety and addiction. At European level, Greece is not confining itself to legislation at national level, but is actively promoting the extension of this measure via specific proposals made to the European Commission, demonstrating that the legislative initiative is not piecemeal or opportunistic, but forms part of a long-standing and systematic commitment to achieving that objective. It should also be noted that in December 2024 Greece drew up a National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction. National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction – nationalcoalition.gov.gr According to the studies used in preparing this strategy, as well as the available European and national research data, there is a correlation between early and excessive use of social networks and increased rates of stress, sleep disorders, online harassment and problematic online behaviour.
Consequently, this constitutes a direct and proportionate intervention at the point of access in order to achieve the objective of protecting the health and healthy psychosocial development of the most vulnerable age group, namely minors, given that the risks it seeks to address are directly linked to the use of online social networking services.
9b. The need for intervention is linked in particular to the early and intensive exposure of minors to services that use design features and algorithmic functions capable of encouraging continuous use and leading to addictive patterns of behaviour, with consequences particularly for their physical and mental health, healthy psychosocial development, as well as the safety and privacy of minors. The need for intervention is confirmed by recent data showing that the use of social networks begins as early as primary school and becomes a daily and intensive activity before the age of 15. More specifically, 41% of primary school pupils and 51% of secondary school pupils said they started using social networks between the ages of 10 and 12. Children’s online habits in Greece: 2025 nationwide survey explores challenges in implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA)
During preparation of the measure, less restrictive alternatives, such as parental supervision and digital education and information measures, were considered. Measures relating to digital literacy and digital education, while necessary as complementary protective tools, were not deemed sufficient as a stand-alone substitute for regulatory intervention, given that even children with high digital literacy remain exposed to algorithmic mechanisms that encourage excessive and sometimes addictive, use of these services. This finding is also confirmed in the National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction, according to which the effective protection of minors requires a combination of educational, preventive and regulatory measures and cannot be based solely on the individual responsibility of parents or of the minors themselves. National Strategy for the Protection of Minors against Internet Addiction – nationalcoalition.gov.gr
Alternative approaches were deemed inadequate as stand-alone protective measures, as they rely primarily on individual supervision by parents or the users themselves and do not address, in a comprehensive and effective manner, the risks arising from the characteristics of the functioning of these services. This need is also confirmed by recent empirical data. In particular, according to the nationwide Safeline Survey (2025), the majority of children under 13 years of age already use platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, despite prescribed age limits for such use, while most minors provide a false age at account opening, which highlights the weaknesses of existing age verification mechanisms. The research also shows that the use of social networks begins as early as primary school and is a daily activity, while a significant number of minors spend more than four hours a day on these platforms. Furthermore, there is evidence of limited parental supervision, particularly in secondary education, as well as widespread exposure of children to inappropriate content, often without their actively seeking it out. National Strategy for the Protection of Minors from Internet Addiction - nationalcoalition.gov.gr Therefore, the proposed measure, which involves the introduction of a clear age limit for access to this specific category of social networking services, is deemed necessary for their effective protection.
9c. Implementation of the measure is linked to the use of appropriate and reliable age-verification or age-assessment methods, in accordance with Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA) and the relevant guidelines of the European Commission, which provide for the possibility of establishing a minimum age limit for access to online social networking services for the purpose of protecting minors. The burden placed on providers of such services, particularly with regard to the development or integration of appropriate age-verification or age=assessment mechanisms, cannot be regarded as disproportionate or excessive, given the public-interest objective pursued, namely the protection of minors under the age of fifteen (15) from health risks associated with the early and intensive use of social networks.
The available empirical data weigh in favour of adopting the measure. The data recorded in the Safeline 2025 survey show that the measure does not address a hypothetical or abstract risk, but rather addresses forms of exposure to high-risk environments that have already been identified among minors. Children’s online habits in Greece: 2025 nationwide survey explores challenges in implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA) Furthermore, the requirement for providers to implement age-verification mechanisms is considered reasonable, given that existing mechanisms appear to be inadequate. In particular, according to the Safeline 2025 survey, 66% of primary school pupils and 74% of secondary school pupils who use social networks admit to having given a false age when registering, easily circumventing age-verification mechanisms. This finding makes the requirement proportionate and is directly linked to the need to address a specific operational gap. Children’s online habits in Greece: 2025 nationwide survey explores challenges in implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA)
The draft provisions also limit the burden on providers, as they do not impose an exclusive or pre-determined technological solution. Instead, they allow the use of different appropriate age-verification or age-assessment methods, including the European Union equivalent age-verification solution that has been integrated into the Gov.gr Wallet and Kids Wallet. This technological neutrality offers providers flexibility in terms of compliance and reduces the risk of excessive regulatory or financial burdens. It should also be noted that the EU’s initiative to develop and make available a technical solution for an age-verification application across the Union further reduces the burden on providers by providing them with the relevant technical tools free of charge.
The burden is also mitigated by the transitional period until 1 January 2027, which provides affected providers with sufficient time for technical and organisational adaptation. The measure is furthermore limited in scope. This measure does not concern minors’ access to the internet or educational or informational services in general, but specifically online social networking services, and only in relation to users who have not yet reached the age of fifteen (15).
Against this background, any burden on providers is limited, technically manageable and gradually implementable, and the purpose served is particularly important. Conversely, failure to take action would allow minors to continue to have unchecked access to services designed to maximise engagement, despite documented evidence of excessive use, inadequate parental supervision, circumvention of age restrictions and exposure to inappropriate content. Consequently, the burden imposed by the measure is reasonable and proportionate to the objective of protecting minors.
10. References to basic texts: The basic text does not exist
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
