We, the citizens of the European Union and global internet users, call upon EU policymakers to reject the EU KIDS Act (EU Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy) in its current form. While protecting minors online is a critical goal, this proposed regulation introduces disproportionate restrictions that threaten the fundamental right to privacy, undermine open-source software, and risk devastating the digital entertainment and video game industries.

The EU KIDS Act goes far beyond regulating social media. By treating all "information society services"—including online video games, AI companions, app stores, and operating systems—under overly broad frameworks, it implements sweeping rules that harm everyday users:

Mass Surveillance Through Mandatory Age Verification: The act's requirement for EU-certified zero-knowledge proof or biometric age assurance means everyday adults must continuously prove their identity to participate in basic online spaces. This creates highly attractive targets for cybercriminals and effectively ends anonymous or pseudonymous internet use.

The Destruction of the Video Game Ecosystem: Under the proposed rules, it becomes nearly impossible to run private, community-hosted video game servers. The retroactive liabilities applied to older titles and the staggering compliance costs will crush independent (indie) developers, effectively consolidating the market into the hands of a few massive corporate publishers. Even downloading simple game patches would require rigorous ID verification.

Threats to Open-Source Software and Linux: Despite vague exemptions, the strict liabilities and lack of carve-outs for small and micro-enterprises threaten the legal distribution of open-source projects, including popular Linux distributions.

Extraterritorial Tracking: The law forces global providers to track not just where a user is browsing from, but where they are "established," necessitating permanent geographic tracking of EU citizens even when traveling abroad.

Child safety is a vital responsibility that belongs in the hands of parents and tailored, localized solutions—not heavy-handed mass surveillance. The European Commission is currently seeking public feedback until November 26, 2026. We must act now to signal that EU citizens will not trade their fundamental right to privacy and a free digital economy for a broken system of total online surveillance.

Sign this petition to demand that the European Parliament reject the EU KIDS Act and protect our digital future!