Twenty-five Greek and international organizations warn that Greece’s proposed social media ban for minors could threaten privacy, anonymity, and digital rights. Credit: Flickr / Light Up / CC BY NC 2
Twenty-five Greek and international organizations have raised serious concerns over Greece’s proposed social media ban for minors, warning that the measure could threaten privacy, anonymity, and digital rights.
In a joint letter sent to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other ministers of the Greek government, the organizations criticized the plan to ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. They warn that the proposal could have consequences extending far beyond minors and potentially affect all internet users in Greece.
Public discussion around the proposal began in early April, after the government said it intended to tighten rules on minors’ access to social media. The plan drew responses from parents, educators, scientists, and digital rights advocates, as the debate shifted to whether Greece can better protect children online without weakening digital freedoms.
The process became more formal after the draft law was uploaded on May 12 to the European Commission’s TRIS platform, as part of the EU notification and international consultation procedure.
25 organizations raise concerns over Greece’s social media ban
One week later, 25 organizations from Greece and abroad co-signed a detailed 19-page letter criticizing the legislative initiative. The signatories are active in mental health, human rights, child protection, digital rights, computer science, and consumer protection.
The organizations argue that the proposed age verification process would not affect only minors. In practice, they warn, it could require all internet users in Greece to prove their age before accessing social media services.
According to the letter, mandatory identity verification tools and digital wallets could turn internet access into a system of continuous monitoring. The organizations argue that such a system could gradually restrict anonymity in the digital public sphere and create broader surveillance risks.
Groups criticize lack of public consultation
The signatories also criticize what they describe as the absence of meaningful public consultation before the measure was introduced.
They say there was no participatory process involving scientists, social organizations, parents, educators, or children themselves. They also question whether the government took into account the recommendations of the relevant committee of Greece’s Central Health Council.
According to the letter, the committee had reportedly expressed reservations about generalized bans on minors’ access to social media.
Greece’s social media ban for minors called ineffective
The proportionality of the proposed social media ban for minors is one of the central concerns raised in the letter.
The organizations acknowledge that children face real risks online, including harmful content, addictive platform design, privacy violations, and exposure to exploitation. However, they argue that blanket bans are not an effective solution.
Instead, they propose stronger digital literacy programs, better education for children and parents, and stricter obligations on platforms to limit addictive and exploitative design mechanisms.
The letter also raises concerns about possible social exclusion for families that lack sufficient digital skills or access to modern technological tools. It warns that minors may turn to circumvention methods, such as VPNs or unregulated platforms, which could ultimately increase risks to their personal data.
Possible conflict with EU digital rules
The organizations argue that the initiative may conflict with the European Union’s existing framework for digital services under the Digital Services Act. They note that the DSA already includes provisions for protecting minors and managing systemic risks on digital platforms.
However, they argue that the EU framework does not provide for generalized age-based access bans or mandatory identification of all users.
The organizations also point to inconsistent public statements and unclear explanations about the proposal. They argue that this has left key questions unanswered, including how far the measure would reach and whether it could withstand legal scrutiny.
Questions over which platforms would be covered
The organizations warn that the regulation could extend beyond major commercial platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
They say it could also affect decentralized social networks such as Mastodon and PixelFed, which operate without centralized corporate control or algorithmic systems designed to maximize user engagement.
At the same time, the letter raises questions over the apparent exclusion of YouTube from the proposed regulation, despite its popularity among minors and its use of content recommendation mechanisms similar to those found on other major platforms.
Organizations call for transparency and safer platforms
The organizations call on the Greek government to launch an open public consultation before moving forward with the bill.
They also urge authorities to publish the recommendations of the Central Health Council, provide full transparency regarding the technical and legal opinions accompanying the measure, and adopt policies requiring platforms themselves to become safer for all users.
The letter concludes that protecting children online is a legitimate and urgent goal. However, the organizations argue that this goal should not be pursued through measures that may weaken privacy, limit anonymity, or create new forms of digital exclusion.