The EU Debunks Claims of “Internet Passports” and a VPN Ban

The initiative was unveiled following a European Commission-commissioned study that reinforced what EU officials had long argued: social media’s addictive algorithms can pose serious risks to the health and development of minors.

In response, the EU plans to introduce a system that would prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing social media platforms and certain other digital services.

The new rules, however, will not apply only to children. Adults will also be required to verify their age using a passport, third-party banking services, or by confirming their identity at a local post office. The entire process will be handled through a dedicated EU age verification app, which was introduced last July.

Following von der Leyen’s announcement, social media platforms were flooded with claims that the European Union was preparing to introduce “internet passports” and establish widespread surveillance over internet users.

Numerous posts on X claimed that EU residents would soon need a special permit to access the internet. Others alleged that the EU planned to ban VPNs to prevent users from bypassing the age verification system. Some users even shared videos presented as “proof” of the alleged plans. However, there is currently no evidence that the European Union intends to introduce “internet passports” or ban VPN services.

One X user, posting under the name Crypto Tice, claimed that the EU would require passports for internet access and block VPNs to enforce compliance.

These claims appear to stem from comments made by a European Commission official, who reportedly said that the new age verification system could not be bypassed using a VPN.

That single statement sparked widespread speculation, even though it referred only to the age verification process itself, not to restricting internet access or banning VPNs.

Despite attracting millions of views, many of these posts are based on a misunderstanding of the new system. Users appear to be confusing age verification, which may involve confirming age with a passport, with the idea of an “internet passport” required to access the web.

The European Union is not the first to pursue this approach. Similar age verification systems have already been introduced or are being developed in the United Kingdom and Australia. In neither country are users required to obtain a digital passport to access social media or other online services.

Nevertheless, the debate continues to intensify. Some X users argue that the real purpose of the new system is to enable mass digital surveillance.

Online safety expert Paul Walsh compared the EU’s proposal to George Orwell’s novel 1984. In his view, protecting children online could become a “Trojan horse” for introducing comprehensive digital surveillance and control.

German financial commentator Marc Friedrich voiced similar concerns.

“Von der Leyen confirms that everyone in the EU will have to use the EU’s identity verification app before they can access social media and publish posts,” he said.

The requirement to verify age using official documents has fueled concerns among some users that their online activity could ultimately be linked to their real-world identity.

The European Commission, however, insists that the age verification app is designed with privacy in mind. Its source code is open, allowing anyone to inspect how the system works.

According to the Commission, the app enables users to prove they are over the required age without revealing any additional personal information.

Despite those assurances, the system has already faced criticism. The app, which Ursula von der Leyen described as technically straightforward and built to the highest privacy standards, was reportedly compromised during independent testing in just two minutes.