The EU will soon launch an app that will monitor your every visit to a \"forbidden\" website

The European Commission is introducing a new tool that should guarantee safer internet browsing. As early as this month, it will launch a special application that will allow users in the EU to easily prove their age when visiting age-restricted websites. The solution will serve as a temporary interim step before the introduction of a full-fledged digital identity, which should be available from November next year.

Unified Age Verification Across the EU

According to the EU, the new application is a response to the growing need for effective age verification for sensitive content. It will primarily be used when accessing websites offering gambling, alcohol, or adult content. T-Systems and Scytáles are collaborating on the development of this so-called white-label solution, creating the technological foundation of the application.

Each EU member state will have the option to customize the application to its own graphic style and national language.

How will verification work?

The verification process will be relatively simple. After installing the application, the user will have to verify their age by scanning their passport or by linking it to a banking application. Subsequently, when visiting age-restricted websites, the system will only confirm whether the user is old enough to access the content – reportedly without sharing any personal data.

The EU will soon launch an app that will monitor your every visit to a \"forbidden\" website Jakub Kárník News Jakub Kárník News

This principle, referred to as “zero-knowledge proof,” is crucial for privacy protection. Websites will not learn anything about the visitor’s identity, only whether they meet the age limit. For example, when accessing alcohol-related websites, the site will only receive the information “yes, the user is over 18” or “no, the user does not meet the age limit.”

Transitional Solution Before Digital ID Card

The age verification application is designed as a temporary solution before the introduction of a full-fledged European digital ID card in November 2026. This card should offer more comprehensive functions, including secure identity verification, electronic document signing, and personal data management.

Challenges and Critical Perspectives

Although the idea of unified age verification in the EU is commendable, its success will depend on several factors. Key among these will be the adoption by operators of age-restricted websites and the user-friendliness of the application itself.

Critics point out that similar centralized systems can pose a security risk in the event of data breaches or hacker attacks. Another question is practical enforceability – it is not clear how the EU will ensure that all websites with sensitive content actually implement this verification, especially those based outside the European Union.

The technology community also points out the problem of potential user tracking despite the declared privacy protection. If the system requires registration and verification for every visit to an age-restricted website, it could theoretically lead to the creation of a digital footprint of visits to sensitive sites.

It also remains to be seen how individual member states will approach implementation and whether some countries will add their own regulatory requirements beyond the basic solution.

What do you think of the new EU app?

Source: ITDaily