Cyprus prepares law to regulate internet access for teenagers under 16

Cyprus plans to introduce new measures to control access to online services for teenagers under 16, following Greece’s example. A bill prepared by DISY party MP Dimitris Dimitriou has been submitted to parliament. Its goal is to strengthen the protection of minors from digital risks such as inappropriate content, internet addiction, and exposure to adult material.

Currently, the minimum age for independent internet access in Cyprus is 14. However, the author of the initiative proposes raising it to 16, noting that most EU countries already have stricter limits. “Global practice shows that states are gradually tightening control over the age of internet and social media users. The age threshold is increasing, and in most EU countries it is already above 14,” Dimitriou emphasized. He added that changing the law alone is not enough — it is important to ensure a real mechanism for age verification and compliance monitoring.

The bill provides for the introduction of electronic user identification systems and enhanced parental control options. Cypriot authorities plan to draw on Greece’s experience, where similar solutions are being developed. In particular, Greece is preparing to launch a program that includes social media filtering and blocking of websites offering online betting, pornography, alcohol, and tobacco products. Access to such resources will be restricted to adult users.

One of the key tools of the Greek model will be the Kids Wallet app, installed on a child’s device and managed by parents or guardians. The system is expected to launch in Greece at the end of October. Discussions about introducing a similar app in Cyprus began earlier this year. Authorities intend to wait for the first results of the Greek experiment before adapting the experience to local conditions.

The European Commission has supported Greece’s initiative and announced its readiness to conduct pilot testing of similar digital age-verification systems in France, Spain, Italy, and Denmark.

Thus, the Cypriot bill reflects the government’s intention to strengthen the digital safety of minors, though its implementation will depend on Greece’s practical experience and Cyprus’s readiness to adopt such technologies.