REPLAY - Ursula von der Leyen

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-16T10:14:20.198Z • Permanent link

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a drastic overhaul of the digital landscape in the European Union, calling for a ban on children under 13 from accessing social media, online games, and chatbots. This bold move was made during her annual State of the Union speech in Strasbourg on September 14, 2023. Von der Leyen's proposal is the latest effort by the EU to regulate the rapidly evolving digital world, and it has sent shockwaves throughout the tech industry.

Von der Leyen's proposal was met with skepticism by many in the tech community, who argued that such a ban would be overly restrictive and infringe on the rights of children and parents. Facebook's parent company, Meta, was quick to respond, stating that any such ban would be "unrealistic and unworkable." The proposal has also sparked debate among researchers, who point to the potential benefits of increased regulation, but also express concerns about the impact on innovation and free speech.

Industry insiders are watching closely as the EU's Digital Services Act comes up for review in the coming months. Von der Leyen's proposal is seen as a key factor in this review, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the regulatory landscape in the EU.

The proposed ban on children under 13 has significant implications for companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, which are all major players in the social media and online gaming markets. These companies have already faced criticism for their handling of children's data, and a ban on social media access could have a major impact on their bottom line. Research communities are also likely to be affected, as von der Leyen's proposal could limit the amount of data that can be collected on children.

Regulatory bodies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US and the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will also be watching closely, as von der Leyen's proposal could have a significant impact on their ability to regulate the digital sector. Markets such as the European tech sector and the global gaming industry are also likely to be affected, as von der Leyen's proposal could lead to increased costs and regulatory burdens for companies operating in these sectors.

Von der Leyen's proposal is part of a larger pattern of increased regulation in the EU, which has been driven in part by concerns about data protection and online safety. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been a major driver of this trend, and it has already had a significant impact on companies operating in the digital sector. However, von der Leyen's proposal is also part of a broader debate about the role of technology in society, which has been sparked by issues such as disinformation and online hate speech.