Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1921 of 22 July 2026 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification (notified under document C(2026) 5137) (Only the English text is authentic)
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Address https://gelex.eu/eli/EU/decision/2026/1921@2026-07-22/en
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative, and in particular Article 6(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification was submitted to the Commission on 17 June 2026.
(2) The aim of the initiative as expressed by the organisers is to call on the European Commission to propose legislation ensuring that digital identity and age-assurance systems used to access online services in the Union remain voluntary, privacy-preserving and non-discriminatory. The organisers consider that citizens must not be forced to identify themselves to access lawful online content or services unless strictly necessary, proportionate and provided by law. The legislation should require anonymous or pseudonymous proof-of-age, data minimisation, selective disclosure, open-source implementation, independent security audits, prohibition of cross-service tracking by relying parties, and equivalent alternatives for citizens who do not use a digital wallet. An annex to the initiative provides further details on its background, its subject matter and its objectives.
(3) The Commission considers that, based on Articles 16 and 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), it could propose legislation ensuring that digital identity and age-assurance systems used to access online services in the Union remain voluntary, privacy-preserving and non-discriminatory, so that citizens would not need to identify themselves to access lawful online content or services unless strictly necessary, proportionate and provided by law.
(4) For that reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.
(5) That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.
(6) The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.
(7) The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
(8) The initiative entitled Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification should therefore be registered.
(9) The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The European citizens’ initiative entitled Stop Killing The internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification shall be registered.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification, represented by Paul DIEGEL and Daniel MÖNCH acting as contact persons.
Done at Brussels, 22 July 2026. For the Commission Maroš Šefčovič Member of the Commission