PRINT

Brussels to the Bay: Protecting Minors under the DSA

Blue and black graphic with event details.
© EU


The livestream of this event is now available by clicking here.

From algorithmic feeds to engagement-based features, the design of digital services plays a critical role in shaping how minors engage with the online world. Under the EU Digital Services Act, the recently published Guidelines on the Protection of Minors online put privacy-, safety-, and security-by-design and age-appropriate design principles at the heart of efforts to foster healthier digital experiences for minors online.

This Brussels to the Bay conversation, organised by the EU Office in San Francisco in collaboration with Coimisiún na Meán (Ireland's DSA Digital Services Coordinator), brought together voices from policy, tech, research, and child advocacy to explore how interface design, recommender systems, algorithms and default settings can be developed and deployed to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security of minors online.

The discussion explored the wide range of risks young users face online — from exposure to illegal content, to unwanted contact, persuasive design and exploitative practices — and how new technologies and societal developments may be amplifying these challenges. At the same time, it spotlighted ways to support minors’ agency, autonomy, and healthy engagement through thoughtful, developmentally aligned design that prioritises accuracy, diversity, inclusivity and fairness.
Whether you're coming from Brussels, the Bay, or somewhere in between, this panel offered a forward-looking conversation on what it means to build digital services that don’t just protect minors, but respect and empower them.

One man standing and speaking in front of a panel of four people.

EU

Meet our speakers:

  • Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, DSA Irish Digital Service Coordinator
  • Robbie Torney, Senior Director, AI Programs at Common Sense Media
  • Ravi Iyer, Managing Director for the USC Marshall School’s Neely Center and the Psychology of Technology Institute
  • Noah Bialos, Director, Regulatory and International Legal at Roblox
  • Gerard de Graaf, Senior EU Envoy to the US for Digital and Head of the San Francisco Office
  • Giulia Geneletti, Online Safety Policy Officer at European Commission/EU Office in San Francisco [moderator]

If you have any questions, please email us at invitation@euinsanfrancisco.eu.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OVERVIEW
-