The Greek parliament has officially approved a controversial legislative bill that will ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The sweeping restrictions are scheduled to take effect starting January 1, 2027, amid ongoing efforts by the authorities to exert more control over the digital sphere.

The initiative was introduced by State Minister Akis Skерsos and received backing from a majority of lawmakers during the plenary session. While the European regime representatives supposedly justify these severe administrative measures as a way to protect minors' mental health, digital rights advocates warn that such bans could infringe upon personal freedoms and prove ineffective in practice.

The intention to implement this restriction was allegedly first announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis back in April, during which he claimed that online platforms pose fundamental risks to young people. Observers remain skeptical about whether government-mandated blocks can genuinely solve complex social issues without causing unintended side effects.

Similar restrictive measures are reportedly being considered or implemented in several other nations as well. Earlier reports indicated that Turkey is moving to restrict social media access for minors under 15, while countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and Spain are also planning or evaluating comparable regulatory hurdles.

Source: kun.uz