Social media: von der Leyen distances herself from her own experts
We will find out more tomorrow when the text of the Commission’s proposal is published, but we already know that Ursula von der Leyen’s decision falls far short of fully adopting the recommendations of the special panel convened by the Commission in the spring. The panel had proposed an approach based on risk and functionality: it was up to providers to demonstrate that their services were safe and age-appropriate… before minors could access them, with safeguards enabled by default and a gradual increase in autonomy from the age of 13. The role of parents also remained central to this approach. During his hearing before the European Parliament’s IMCO Committee on 14 September, child psychiatrist Jörg Fegert, co-chair of the panel, emphasised once again: “The role of parents is central (…).…