Meta Supports Greece’s Push for Digital Age of Consent Across EU

In a significant development, Meta — the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, Threads, and WhatsApp — has publicly endorsed Greece’s initiative to establish a unified digital age of consent across the European Union. The move aims to protect minors from harmful online content and digital addiction through automated age verification systems already implemented in Greece’s Kids Wallet application. This marks the first time a major tech company has taken a clear stance supporting Greece’s proposal at the EU level. Meta’s Public Policy Director for Italy, Greece, and Malta, Claudia Trivellino, praised Greece’s leadership role in ongoing discussions involving Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Trivellino emphasized that mandatory age verification should be widely applied across all digital services used by teenagers to ensure a safer online environment. The endorsement comes after months of diplomatic efforts by Greece following the launch of its National Strategy for Protecting Minors from Internet Addiction earlier this year. The European Commission has also expressed interest in launching a simplified version of the Greek model — called ‘mini wallet’ — by summer, serving as a temporary solution until the full-scale European Digital Wallet is ready by late 2026. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has consistently highlighted the issue as a regulatory priority for the EU, reiterating its importance during his speech at the UN General Assembly last September.