Prince Harry supports the Kids Act. 'From the EU, remarkable and necessary progress'

"These companies have caused enormous harm and must take responsibility. For many years we have tried to encourage these companies to change and it has not worked. We have tried to trust them and it has not worked. The time has come for people like you, who hold positions of power, to truly make a difference. Of course there will be disagreements. But a unified approach, starting with reversing the burden of proof so that it falls on the companies rather than on parents, is the best starting point. And the EU Kids Act is exactly that. The amount of progress you have made in this Parliament and within the EU is truly remarkable and deeply necessary." Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, said this in his address to the panel "Beyond promises: building a digital future that works for children" during his visit to the European Parliament together with his wife Meghan Markle. "We can no longer stand here - he continued - waiting for thousands more children to lose their lives and for thousands more parents to see their children's lives changed forever. The entire mission must revolve around the concept of safety by design. By the time the product reaches a phone, an app, the hands of a child, it is already too late. We all know this, and there is no reason why this industry should be treated any differently from any other." In his address, the Duke of Sussex spoke of a "collective battle against the American giants" of Big Tech, fought first-hand and alongside many families. "For over 20 years, social media and its consequences have had an impact on many families and schools around the world, and now we are facing another battle with artificial intelligence," he added. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived at the European Parliament in Brussels to attend the inauguration of the "Lost Screen Memorial". Accompanied by Spanish MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White (EPP), the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked the red carpet of the ceremonial entrance, under the eyes and cameras of the numerous journalists present, without making any statements. The exhibition, hosted by the Spanish MEP, pays tribute to the minors who lost their lives following harm suffered through social media, while also giving a voice to their families. During the inauguration, Sandra Spitaels, mother of Glenn, will recount the experience her family went through, while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will deliver the opening speech. The initiative will bring the testimonies of these families to the center of the European debate on the protection of minors online, in a context that sees discussions on a future "EU Kids Act" and on the implementation of the "EU AI Act". Among the civil society organizations invited to share their experience are, among others, the Spanish foundation Anar, the Italian Telefono Azzurro, the European Association for Digital Transition, the Swedish World Childhood Foundation, the 5Rights Foundation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). All rights reserved © Copyright ANSA