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EU Addresses Deepfake Threat and Child Protection Online

Published January 20, 2026, 12:43

The European Parliament is addressing the issue of deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media, with a focus on protecting children. Cyprus is participating in a pilot age verification program with six other countries, aiming to ensure that online platforms verify users' ages and require parental consent for children under 14. The Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation, Nikodimos Damianou, emphasized that children's online communication must be safe and that legislation, such as the Digital Services Act, sets rules for platform operation. The European Commission has already begun imposing fines for violations.