by Sarantis Michalopoulos
The Greek government is seeking to fast-track national legislation banning social media use by children under the age of 15 by inserting the measure into an unrelated bill.
Greece, one of the frontrunners in Europe on restricting minors’ access to social media, is currently holding a public consultation on the draft law, which concludes on 20 July.
However, according to official government documents, the proposal has also been introduced – as three short articles – in a separate justice reform bill.
Tech industry lobbyists estimate that the government intends to pass the measure before parliament’s summer recess, as it followed a similar approach with the AI Act by sending it to parliamentary committees immediately after the public consultation ended.
Meanwhile, the TRIS notification period – the EU procedure requiring member countries to notify draft technical legislation that could affect the single market – does not expire until 10 August.
Greece’s ministry of digital governance told Euractiv that the draft law remains under public consultation, but would neither confirm nor deny whether it would be adopted immediately after the consultation closes next week.
The legislation, which is due to enter into force on 1 January 2027, has been one of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ flagship digital policy initiatives.
If adopted, Greece would become the first EU member country to ban social media for children under the age of 15. Although France has also advanced similar legislation, which it’s been hoping to implement in time for the new school year in September. But, last week, the Commission instructed Paris to revise its proposal to ensure it complies with EU law.
Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, also said on Monday that an EU-wide proposal for a social media “start date” – potentially targeting the under-13s, in line with expert child safety advice she also received this week – will be presented after the summer.
Greece, meanwhile, is due to hold general elections in 2027. However, the government’s efforts to accelerate several pieces of legislation – including the social media ban – have fuelled speculation that snap elections could be called as early as this autumn.
*Published first on Euractiv.com
By: N. Peter Kramer