Spain’s pre-draft bill on the Spanish Organic Law for the Protection of Minors in Digital Environments has been introduced and is open for public comments until June 28, 2024. This draft bill aims to strengthen protections for minors online by addressing several critical areas, including loot boxes, data protection, and the obligations of manufacturers and platforms. Though still in the early stages, it signals significant regulatory changes that could impact various digital sectors.
One key provision of the draft bill mandates that manufacturers of internet-connected devices, such as smartphones and smart TVs, must implement parental control mechanisms by default. These controls will need to be activated during the initial setup of the device, and manufacturers will have notice and disclosure obligations related to these controls.
The draft bill also proposes a prohibition on minors accessing or activating randomized reward mechanisms, commonly known as loot boxes. These mechanisms, which involve uncertain rewards acquired through virtual currencies or other means, are deemed potentially harmful and are set to be restricted for minors under this new regulation.
Additionally, the draft bill raises the minimum age for valid consent from 14 to 16 years old for data protection purposes, aligning with stricter standards. It also imposes reinforced obligations on video-sharing platforms to implement age verification systems and parental controls, and introduces broader measures affecting educational institutions, public bodies, and legal statutes, such as penalties for disseminating pornographic deepfakes.
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