Μake us preferred on Google The Greek government has begun a round of meetings with major social media companies to make sure its new ban on social media access for young children works in practice.
Under the recently passed law, platforms must design and present reliable age verification systems that will go live on January 1, 2027, when the age limit takes effect.
Meetings and a December deadline
The talks started with TikTok. Meetings will follow with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as Snapchat, Google, which runs YouTube and Shorts, and Microsoft, which owns LinkedIn.
The companies have until early December to show the government the technology they plan to use to confirm users’ real ages.
One option under review is the use of algorithms that flag likely minors based on behavior patterns, preferences, and interactions with other users. Their age could then be confirmed through an ID document or a video call.
The TikTok meeting
Minister of State Akis Skertsos and Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou met with TikTok representatives. Both sides agreed to set up working groups right away and hold technical meetings involving ministry officials, Greece’s National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT), and the platforms. The aim is to explain in detail how the verification systems work and what is needed to connect them to the companies’ own systems.
Skertsos said the government expects every platform to explain how it will comply with the law, stressing that protecting children’s health, privacy, and development is a shared responsibility of governments and tech companies.
What the government is asking for
The law uses a calendar-year rule. For 2027, this means every child born in 2013 or later falls below the age limit.
The government wants real verification, not just a self-reported birth date, since users can easily enter false information. The systems must cover both new sign-ups and existing accounts, identifying underage users and blocking their access.
The age verification features of Kids Wallet and the Gov.gr Wallet were presented as available options. Platforms may choose a different solution, as long as it is effective, proportionate, and in line with data protection rules.
Privacy is a key focus. Digital age credentials can confirm that a user meets the age requirement without revealing their name or exact date of birth.
Next steps for the companies
By early December, each platform must present a specific implementation plan along with a demonstration of its proposed technology. The presentation should cover the verification method, how it applies to existing and new accounts, data protection safeguards, test results, and a rollout timeline. Each company must also name a senior executive responsible for having the system ready by January 1, 2027.
Skertsos also pointed to Meta’s settlement in the United States, saying it changes expectations for the entire industry and strengthens the case for closer scrutiny of how digital services affect children.
Greece as a European test case
Papastergiou walked through the technical process for age verification through Kids Wallet and the Gov.gr Wallet. He explained that platforms would receive only the information needed to confirm a user’s age, with no access to personal details such as name or date of birth.
He also highlighted Greece’s role in the EU’s age verification solution and the plan to make it compatible with the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet).
Finally, he urged the platforms to inform their Greek users in good time about the changes taking effect on January 1, 2027, and about how the verification process will work.
