Poland's Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, has demanded that major digital platforms introduce effective age verification and remove accounts belonging to users under the age of 13. The demands were presented during a Friday meeting at the Ministry of Digital Affairs in Warsaw, where representatives of several technology companies were summoned to discuss child safety online.
According to the minister, the platforms must take concrete steps to prevent minors from accessing services that are not intended for them. The removal of accounts held by children under 13 is a central element of the government's push, reflecting broader concerns about the presence of young users on social media and other digital services.
The meeting, described as a working session between ministry officials and platform representatives, also addressed the speed of content moderation. The companies present committed to shortening the time it takes to review and act on reported content. The ministry has framed the discussion as part of a wider effort to make digital spaces safer, particularly for younger users.
One notable absence was the platform X, which did not send a representative to the ministry. The no-show drew a firm reaction from Gawkowski, who also serves as deputy prime minister. He made clear that the government expects all major platforms to engage with its requests, and the empty chair at the meeting underscored the growing tension between Polish authorities and some technology firms over accountability.
The demands come amid increasing scrutiny across Europe of how social media companies handle underage users. Age verification has become a contentious issue, with regulators arguing that current methods are easily bypassed by children. Platforms, meanwhile, face technical and privacy challenges in implementing robust systems that do not compromise the data of adult users.
For Poland, the meeting signals a more assertive stance toward Big Tech. The government appears to be moving beyond voluntary cooperation and toward expectations that platforms will actively enforce age limits and respond faster to harmful content. While no specific deadlines or penalties were announced following the Friday session, the ministry's tone suggests that further action could follow if platforms fail to comply.
The commitments made by the companies present — particularly on faster moderation — will be watched closely. Child safety advocates have long argued that self-regulation has not delivered adequate protection, and the Polish government's intervention adds pressure on platforms to demonstrate measurable results rather than promises.
The absence of X may also have diplomatic consequences. By skipping the meeting, the company risks being singled out as uncooperative at a time when European governments are increasingly willing to legislate on digital safety. Gawkowski's public reaction indicates that the ministry will not treat the snub lightly.
How the platforms respond in the coming weeks will determine whether the meeting marks a turning point or merely a symbolic gesture. For now, the Polish government has made its priorities clear: verify ages, remove under-13 accounts, and moderate content faster. The ball is in the technology companies' court.