Italy’s AGCOM Enforces Mandatory Age Verification for Adult Content
AGCOM, Italy’s Media and Communications Authority, has announced the introduction of age verification requirements to protect minors from harmful content. This new regime will require Italian media to verify the age of users before giving access to adult content, including gambling, pornography and certain social media.
Strengthening Protections for Minors
The age verification measures are part of the Italian government’s wider Caivano Decree to ensure online safety for minors.
AGCOM’s new rules will shield children from content that can harm their physical, mental or moral development.
As AGCOM says, media platforms will have to implement strict measures to prevent minors from accessing adult content, with a focus on gambling and other age restricted categories.
Digital Identity at the Core of Age Verification
Under the new regime, media companies will use Italy’s Public Digital Identity System (SPID) to verify the age of citizens and residents.
SPID or another form of digital identity will be required for users to access adult content on platforms from gambling websites to unrestricted social media.
AGCOM’s framework ensures privacy through a “double anonymity” model, which prevents media owners from storing or tracking age verification data, protecting user confidentiality.
EU Oversight and Compliance
AGCOM’s technical measures have been submitted to the European Commission (EC) for approval to ensure compliance with EU data protection and privacy regulations.
The EC will assess whether these age verification controls comply with European standards.
Once approved AGCOM will launch a pilot with trade associations, consumer associations and video sharing platforms to test the age controls.
Impact on the Gambling Industry
The age control measures will also hit the online gambling sector. Online gambling operators will have to implement the same age verification measures as part of the upcoming Reorganisation of Italian Gambling decree.
Italy is ensuring minors are protected from harmful content and regulatory compliance across digital.
