Newsletter July

General-Purpose AI Code of Practice now available

The European Commission has received the final version of the voluntary General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, developed by 13 experts with input from over 1,000 stakeholders. The Code supports compliance with the AI Act’s rules on general-purpose AI, which take effect from 2 August 2025, with enforcement following in 2026 and 2027. It covers transparency, copyright, and safety & security—with tools like a Model Documentation Form and risk management guidance for powerful models. Once endorsed, the Code will allow signatories to demonstrate AI Act compliance with less administrative burden and greater legal clarity.

You can read further here and here.

Commission presents guidelines and age verification app prototype for a safer online space for children

The European Commission has published new guidelines on the protection of minors under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and unveiled a prototype age verification app to create a safer online environment for children. The guidelines address risks like addictive design, cyberbullying, harmful content, and unwanted contact, encouraging platforms to adopt privacy-by-default settings and give minors more control. The age verification app sets a privacy-friendly standard for proving age online, with pilot testing beginning in several EU countries. Both initiatives aim to ensure that minors can benefit from the digital world safely, aligning with the DSA and broader EU child protection strategies.

You can read further here and here.

Commission seeks views on rising threats of cyberbullying

Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Micallef have reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to making the online world safer for children and youth, highlighting the growing threat of cyberbullying, which affects 1 in 6 adolescents. As part of President von der Leyen’s political priorities, the Commission will launch an EU-wide Action Plan on cyberbullying, focusing on protecting minors, addressing gender-based and group-specific vulnerabilities, and promoting intergenerational fairness. This initiative complements existing efforts under the Digital Services Act, including new guidelines on minors’ protection and the prototype age-verification solution, with consultations open until 29 September 2025.

You can read further here.