Portugal yesterday passed a bill that limits access to online content for individuals under 16 years of age. First of all, children under 13 are not allowed to access social media sites, photos, videos and gambling sites. Meanwhile, teenagers aged 13-15 can only access online content after receiving permission from their parents or guardians.
The bill was approved to protect children from content considered harmful, cyberbullying and pedophilia. Digital Mobile Keys (DMK) will be used by parents to give consent, thus helping to enforce the ban for children under 13. Technology providers will also be required to implement age verification systems compatible with DMK.
The measures taken by Portugal are not as strict as those taken by Australia, which banned social media platforms in general without any exemptions. The UK, Malaysia and France are three other countries that are also considering following Australia's lead.
