EU weighs tougher age rules for children's social media access, backs 'phased and gradual access'

firstpost.com Jul 14, 2026

EU weighs tougher age rules for children’s social media access, backs ‘phased and gradual access’

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stricter limits on children’s social‑media use after a EU‑appointed online child‑safety panel recommended banning access for under‑13s until platforms can prove safety. The proposal aligns with measures in Australia, the UK, Turkey and Indonesia that restrict users younger than 15 or 16 from apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Von der Leyen, a trained doctor, argued children under three should have no screen exposure, while older youths should receive “phased and gradual” access supervised by parents, teachers or caregivers. She also called for time‑limited, supervised use for under‑13s and age‑appropriate safeguards before teenagers gain broader access. The push follows a recent Digital Services Act warning to Meta to curb addictive features or face heavy fines soon.

💡 Why It Matters

· Placing safety proof on tech firms forces redesign of core platform features before minors can log on, creating enforceable safeguards rather than relying on parental control.

Capsules Policies

Read full article on firstpost.com

The Climate Deal Trump Won’t Kill

The UN’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), launched in 2016, remains the only global climate pact the Trump administration has not targeted, largely because it imposes minimal obligations on the United States and airlines. Originating as a compromise after the EU’s 2012 attempt to price all aviation emissions was blocked by Russia, China and the Obama administration, CORSIA allows carriers to offset growth in international emissions through carbon credits, preserving “carbon‑neutral growth.” The EU’s new Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, must assess CORSIA’s effectiveness by July 17 and decide whether to re‑impose a comprehensive carbon price on flights departing Europe. Meanwhile, ICAO urges avoidance of regional measures, a stance that shields U.S. airlines from stricter rules as Europe contemplates tighter controls amid rising jet‑fuel costs and supply shocks.

💡 Europe’s pending decision could force the world’s largest aviation market to adopt a genuine carbon‑pricing regime, breaking the low‑impact status quo that CORSIA currently provides.

energy-storage.news · Jul 14

Thailand is creating a ‘flexible and competitive environment’ for energy storage market…

Thailand’s energy ministry unveiled new market rules aimed at spurring investment in grid‑scale battery storage, positioning storage as a cornerstone of the country’s net‑zero‑by‑2050 plan. Director‑General Wattanapong Kurovat highlighted the role of storage in providing flexibility, reliability and resilience for a power system increasingly reliant on intermittent renewables. At the Energy Storage Summit Asia 2026, he outlined a four‑pillar strategy that includes smart‑grid integration, domestic manufacturing, market‑mechanism reforms and cross‑border trading. The policy shift introduces direct power purchase agreements that give large users and producers, such as data centres and renewable developers, open grid access. Thailand currently hosts only three utility‑scale solar‑plus‑storage projects, far fewer than regional peers, underscoring the urgency of the reforms to accelerate Thailand’s clean energy transition.

💡 Direct PPAs unlock previously barred investors, turning storage from a niche add‑on into a revenue‑generating asset that can fund the country’s renewable expansion.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 14

Are the EV Tariffs Working? Western Carmakers Shifted Production to EU, but…

Transport & Environment’s latest analysis shows that the EU’s electric‑vehicle tariffs have cut the share of Chinese‑made EVs sold by Western brands from a peak of 22 % in 2024 to 17 % in Q1 2026, as Tesla, BMW and Volvo shifted assembly to Europe. Meanwhile, imports of Chinese‑brand EVs kept rising, now representing over half of all Chinese BEV shipments to the bloc. Differing tariff rates produced mixed results: SAIC’s BEV imports fell by roughly 50 % after a 35 % duty, while BYD’s doubled despite a 17 % levy. Chinese manufacturers are also onshoring production and expanding into plug‑in hybrids, boosting their PHEV share from 3 % to 13 % since 2024. Battery imports from China, which face minimal duties, surged seven‑fold between 2020 and 2025, prompting calls for a 20 % tariff that would raise EU‑built BEV prices by only 2.8 %. The analysis warns that weaker EU CO₂ targets could lift Chinese EV market share to 30 % by 2035, underscoring the need for combined incentives and protection to secure a domestic battery supply chain.

💡 Without stronger safeguards, Europe risks losing its nascent EV and battery manufacturing base to a flood of cheaper Chinese imports, undermining the bloc’s climate and industrial policy goals.

biometricupdate.com · Jul 14

PNG advances digital identity with AI laws, SevisPass integration, QUT partnership

Papua New Guinea’s digital government is accelerating with a new partnership between the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), signed in Brisbane before Prime Minister James Marape. The agreement establishes a framework for joint research, capacity building and public‑sector innovation focused on the nation’s SevisPass digital identity platform, while mandating strict data‑sovereignty safeguards, procurement rules and cybersecurity standards. Concurrently, the government is drafting AI‑safety legislation to criminalise deepfakes, voice cloning, child‑exploitation content and fraudulent impersonation, aligning the Cybercrime Code Act with international conventions. Amendments are slated for November. In parallel, telecom operators Digicel PNG, Vodafone PNG, Telikom PNG and cybersecurity partners are convening to deepen SevisPass integration across the country’s networks.

💡 By tying advanced AI regulation to a sovereign digital ID system, PNG aims to protect citizens from emerging biometric threats while positioning itself as a regional leader in secure, government‑controlled digital infrastructure.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 14

EPA Eliminating Public from Data Center Permitting, New California EV Incentives —…

The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to exclude the public from the permitting process for new data centers, a significant regulatory shift that reduces community oversight on these energy-intensive facilities. This decision coincides with new electric vehicle incentives announced by California, aiming to boost adoption of zero-emission vehicles. These two major developments dominated reader attention this week, highlighting divergent policy approaches to environmental regulation. The EPA’s move has sparked debate over transparency and local control, while California’s incentives seek to accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation. Together, these stories reflect the complex landscape of current environmental policy, balancing industrial growth with ecological concerns. The Sierra Club’s press release regarding these issues topped the list of most-read articles, surprising editors with its high engagement. This weekly roundup underscores the public’s keen interest in how government actions shape the future of energy infrastructure and personal transportation choices in the United States.

💡 The EPA’s exclusion of public input centralizes power over data center expansion, potentially accelerating infrastructure growth at the expense of local environmental safeguards. Simultaneously, California’s targeted incentives demonstrate a state-level strategy to drive EV adoption independently of federal permitting controversies.

spacenews.com · Jul 14

Poland to host new ESA center as government boosts investments in space

Poland will host the first European Space Agency center in an eastern flank member state, focusing on civil security and resilience. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced the facility in Warsaw on July 13. The center will conduct dual-use research, marking Poland’s emergence as a European space leader. Concurrently, Poland is significantly increasing its financial commitment to ESA. The government raised its contribution tenfold, committing 51 million euros for 2023-2025 and 550 million euros for 2026-2028. Total contributions for the latter period will reach 731 million euros. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański stated the nation aims to double space sector expenditure. A new state-run fund exceeding 500 million zloty will support prospective space companies. Local firms like Creotech Instruments are expanding capacities. Pre-operational activities for the center are scheduled to begin in 2027. This investment underscores Poland’s strategic pivot toward space technology, science, and security infrastructure within the broader European framework.

💡 Poland’s massive financial injection transforms it from a peripheral participant into a critical hub for European civil security and dual-use space technology. This shift directly strengthens the EU’s eastern flank resilience against geopolitical instability.