Spain has introduced a new digital tool aimed at preventing minors from accessing online pornography. Unveiled by the Spanish government on Monday, the “Digital Wallet Beta” (Cartera Digital Beta) is an innovative app designed to verify users’ ages on adult content platforms, ensuring that only individuals over 18 can view such material.
The Digital Wallet Beta will require users to confirm their age through the app. Once verified, users will receive 30 “porn credits” valid for one month, allowing access to adult content. Additional credits can be requested by those who need them.
This credit-based system has been designed with privacy in mind, providing a layer of anonymity by preventing users’ online activities from being easily traceable. The Spanish government believes this approach strikes a balance between effective age verification and user privacy.
Scheduled to be available by the end of summer, the Digital Wallet Beta will be a voluntary measure. Online platforms can opt to use this system or continue with other age-verification methods. This initiative is seen as a proactive step ahead of an EU law set to take effect in October 2027, which will mandate that websites prevent minors from accessing pornography.
Eventually, the Spanish system is expected to be integrated with the EU’s upcoming digital identity framework (eIDAS2), which will offer a comprehensive digital wallet app for accessing a variety of public and private services across the European Union.
José Luis Escrivá, Spain’s Digital Secretary, emphasized the importance of acting preemptively. “We are acting in advance and we are asking platforms to do so too, as what is at stake requires it,” Escrivá told El País. The government’s early action aims to align with future EU regulations and protect minors from inappropriate online content.
The Digital Wallet Beta has received mixed reactions. While some praise the government’s effort to protect minors, others criticize the system for its perceived complexity. However, the government maintains that the benefits of enhanced privacy and better control over age verification outweigh the challenges.
As Spain prepares to roll out this new tool, it represents a significant step in the ongoing effort to create safer online environments for young people, while respecting the privacy and rights of adult users.
