#644 EU Digital ID — Trust Us, It’s for Children

Today Niall sits down with social commentator and restaurateur Paul Treyvaud to tackle one of the most contentious digital debates right now — protecting children online versus protecting personal privacy. While polls suggest most people support banning under-16s from social media, there’s far less agreement about how that would actually work.

With the EU Digital Wallet framework expected to roll out to support age verification, MEP Barry Andrews argues privacy will be safeguarded. But critics remain wary, pointing to the COVID passport experience, which was initially described as voluntary yet became central to everyday life for many.

So where should the balance lie? Would you be willing to use a digital wallet in the name of protecting children — or does that cross a line? Niall and Paul unpack the trade-offs, the politics, and what it could mean for the future of online freedom.