Ireland Eyes Teen Social Media Ban

• Age verification system: Pilot project to develop a 'trusted age verification tool' through Ireland's digital wallet infrastructure[1]
• Potential integration with Public Services Card for identity verification, though data protection concerns exist regarding previous illegal determinations by the Data Protection Commission[2]
• EU AI Act alignment: Government will engage with European Commission to ensure Article 5 (prohibited AI practices) remains fit for purpose as AI capabilities evolve[1]
• Implementation approach: Phased rollout beginning with pilot testing to assess practical functionality before full legislative deployment[2]

This initiative signals a coordinated EU-wide shift toward stricter digital age protections, potentially establishing precedent for harmonized online safety standards across member states. The integration with Ireland's AI strategy suggests regulatory frameworks are evolving to address algorithmic harms targeting minors. However, implementation challenges around age verification technology and data protection compliance may delay broader adoption. Success or failure of Ireland's pilot program could influence whether other EU nations adopt similar approaches or develop alternative regulatory models.