The group of National Liberal Party (PNL) senators will submit to Parliament a legislative proposal on the protection of minors in the area of online services, which stipulates that minors under the age of 16 will be able to access online platforms and create accounts only with parental consent, announced on Tuesday the Chair of the Defence Committee, Senator Nicoleta Pauliuc.

'Romania wants a clear, modern and firm framework for protecting children online. It wants responsibility, safety and real parental control. Today, we will submit to the Romanian Parliament the law on digital legal age, a law concerning the protection of minors in the area of information society services. This is not a law designed to scare or ban, but to offer a framework where parents can be parents, children can be children, and technology becomes an ally, not a danger. This law establishes something essential: the legal age of digital maturity at 16. Once the law is adopted, children under the age of 16 will be able to access online platforms and create accounts only with the express consent of their parents,' Pauliuc told the debate titled 'Protecting Children in the Online Environment,' organised by the Senate's Committee on Defence, Public Order and National Security.

She added that the proposed legislation targets the tens of thousands of children who go online but are not safe there.

According to her, for the first time, parents will have the legal right and tools to suspend accounts, request restrictions and provide protection.

Nicoleta Pauliuc also noted that the EU is set to launch an age verification app in July for those accessing the internet.

'The European Union will launch in July a revolutionary age verification application that does not expose personal data. The issue of digital maturity is on the European agenda. Romania can and must play an active role in defining a European standard for digital protection. I have already requested the Ministry of Digitisation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support this direction. This law is not limited to large platforms, it applies to all online service providers, from small social networks to gaming, entertainment, or video content apps. It is not just a restrictive law, it is a law of prevention, balance and safety,' Pauliuc pointed out.

She acknowledged that this legislative proposal is not perfect, as a balance is needed between rights and freedoms, but she stressed that every day of delay 'sometimes costs lives.'

'This is a real phenomenon - viral challenges, pornography, drugs sold on networks, parents defrauded through their cards, depression, anxiety, digital addiction. Every day of delay costs. And sometimes it costs lives. I know there is no perfect law. I know we need education, dialogue and a balance between rights and freedoms. But I also know something else, children don't have time to wait, and parents can no longer be left to fight this alone. I appeal today to all my colleagues in Parliament, regardless of political affiliation, to authorities, civil society, the media and to all of you here today: Let us do what is right, let us build a safe childhood in the digital age. Let us show that Romania can be an example of responsibility and vision,' the liberal senator concluded.

The event was attended by parliamentarians, IT sector officials and civil society representatives. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Sorinel Penes; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)