Karen McAuley:

With regard to age verification, the European Commission through DG Connect has recently set up a task force to explore the whole area of age verification. It involves organisations across member states, both our counterparts but also, for example, counterparts in the Data Protection Commission and so on. It is a complex issue. There is not consensus, and we saw that as well in response to submissions we received to our call for inputs last year. There is not consensus yet on the best way to approach it. As Ms Hodnett said, it is an evolving space. Part of our thinking is that rather than prescribing a particular methodology, we put the onus on the platforms and services to identify what approach to take, as appropriate to their services and platforms, and be able to demonstrate its effectiveness. Therefore, they will need to gather, monitor and share that data in order to demonstrate the effectiveness. It is not enough for them to say it.

To come back to the Deputy's point, however, internationally, there is a huge amount of interest in the whole area of age verification, but it is one where there is not a shared approach or shared understanding. The Deputy will be aware that at European level, an EU consent project is live and there is also work to develop an age-appropriate design code that will take into account that area. They are also looking at an EU identification proposal at EU level. There are, therefore, a number of initiatives under way to try to pinpoint an approach that is effective and has due regard to the various rights that are engaged, including those of children.