The European Commission has launched an age verification app aimed at allowing users to prove they are over 18 without sharing personal data. President von der Leyen promotes it as a privacy-first solution, but skepticism arose after a video showed the app could be bypassed quickly. MEP Christel Schaldemose views it as a positive but insufficient step, criticizing delays in implementation. Child rights advocates argue that the app does not address deeper issues related to online harm. Privacy concerns remain, with calls for a more comprehensive approach to child safety online. The app is set for public download by summer 2026.