Austria

EU Digital Identity Wallet integration expected: Optional integration with the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) is expected, leading to successive adoption by platforms in high-risk areas for age verification.

New proposal for EU-wide digital minimum age of 16 for social media: A new proposal was put forward to establish an EU-wide digital minimum age of 16 for social media (unless parental consent) and 13 for any social media.

Cyberflashing becomes punishable in Austria: The unsolicited digital sending of genital images ('Cyberflashing') became a punishable offense in Austria.

EU Commission releases DSA guidelines and age verification app prototype: The EU Commission published final guidelines on the protection of minors under the DSA and released a prototype of its privacy-preserving age verification app, initiating a pilot phase.

Austria mulls mandatory social media age checks: Following school shootings, Austria began considering mandatory social media age checks, potentially using the 'ID Austria' app, which would require users to identify themselves.

Austrian government approves 'federal trojan' law proposal: The Austrian coalition government approved a proposal for a law allowing the creation of a computer program ('federal trojan') for police monitoring of social media and messenger apps of suspects.

Digital Services Act (DSA) came into force: The EU's Digital Services Act became effective, imposing new obligations on online platforms, especially Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), to protect minors.

New youth protection requirements for audiovisual media services: New requirements for Austrian TV broadcasters and video-on-demand services came into effect to protect minors from developmentally harmful audiovisual content.

Data Protection Adaptation Act 2018 sets digital age of consent at 14: The Data Protection Adaptation Act 2018, implementing GDPR, established the digital age of consent in Austria at 14 years.

Prohibition on child pornography added to law: A prohibition on child pornography was added to the Federal Act Against Obscene Publications and for the Protection of Youth Morally Endangered.

Federal Act Against Obscene Publications and for the Protection of Youth Morally Endangered passed: A federal act regulating pornography in Austria was passed.

Pornografiegesetz enacted: The 'Bundesgesetz vom 31. März 1950 über die Bekämpfung unzüchtiger Veröffentlichungen und den Schutz der Jugend gegen sittliche Gefährdung' (Federal Act of March 31, 1950, on the Combating of Indecent Publications and the Protection of Youth against Moral Endangerment), also known as 'Schmutz- und Schundgesetz', was enacted to regulate pornography and protect youth.