Draft EU KIDS Act proposes sweeping restrictions on online games

The European Commission has published a draft of the proposed EU KIDS Act, which if approved would apply to all online games sold in the EU and restrict features such as login bonuses, contact between minors and other users, and transparency around virtual currencies and variable reward systems. Providers would generally have to implement parental controls and age assurance, though requirements are less strict than for social networks. The transparency provisions on virtual currencies and variable rewards appear only in the recitals, not the operative text, and the draft still needs approval from the European Parliament and EU member states.