On 24 July, the European Commission issued a preliminary finding that TikTok had breached the Digital Services Act by inadequately protecting minors from cyberbullying and sexual predators. Hours earlier, the French parliament voted to prohibit anyone under 15 from creating a social media account, making it the first EU state to enact such a ban. In a parallel enforcement action, South Korea's data watchdog announced a 10.3 billion won fine against TikTok for secretly harvesting the online activity of 9.45 million users for targeted advertising, while two Apple subsidiaries paid 252 million won over mishandled Siri voice recordings.

The Commission contends that TikTok's privacy settings for 13- to 17-year-olds are too lax because they permit public profiles, and that its interface—featuring infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications—fosters compulsive use harmful to adolescents' mental and physical wellbeing. TikTok responded by pointing to over 50 safety measures and a restriction on direct messaging for younger teens. In Paris, the new legislation places the burden of age verification on platforms; the digital affairs minister argued it aims “to give children their childhood back.” A similar 15-year age floor is under consideration in Stockholm, with broad parliamentary backing, following Australia's nationwide ban on under-16s last year.

That protective trend contrasts sharply with developments in Rome, where the Meloni government this week approved a bill reversing the burden of proof for criminal imputability of minors aged 14 to 18. Adolescents will now be presumed capable of forming criminal intent unless they can demonstrate “particular difficulty,” effectively lowering the threshold for prosecution. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the reform as “common sense,” while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini argued that young offenders should not be able to hide behind their age. The opposition Democratic Party countered with a social media campaign warning parents, “with her your children can go to jail,” which Meloni dismissed as propaganda that inadvertently publicised a sensible norm.

Legal and child-rights groups have voiced alarm. The Unione Camere Penali called the measure a “cultural regression” and questioned its constitutional compatibility, while Unicef warned it undermines the rehabilitative foundation of Italy's juvenile justice system. Viewing the issue from Brussels, analysts note an ideological paradox: EU digital regulation extends protections well into adolescence, yet some member states are simultaneously lowering the age of criminal accountability, raising the question of when a minor is considered mature enough for different societal responsibilities.

The European Commission's formal infringement process against TikTok can lead to penalties of up to 6 percent of global revenue; a final decision is expected after the summer recess. France's social media ban will come into force with implementing decrees, requiring platforms to adapt existing accounts within a set deadline. Italy's bill now goes to parliament, where it faces strong opposition, while Sweden's age-limit proposal is due in the autumn. Unicef reports that 40 countries are currently working on similar digital safeguards, setting the stage for an intensifying global debate on the boundaries between protecting the young and prosecuting them.