Andorran Social Democrats Submit 10 Amendments to Strengthen Child Social Media Restrictions

The Partit Socialdemòcrata (PS) has submitted ten amendments to the government's bill amending Andorra's Qualified Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, aimed at restricting under-16s' access to social media and harmful online content. The proposals seek enhanced legal safeguards, objective criteria, and defined institutional roles to balance child protection with fundamental rights.

PS deputy group president Pere Baró stated that the party agrees with the government's assessment of digital risks but calls for "a clearer, more legally secure, and effective protection without infringing rights." Consellera general Laia Moliné criticized the original text as "too open," risking inconsistent application across administrations. She endorsed blocking services that threaten physical, mental, or emotional development, but only if measures respect freedoms of expression, privacy, data protection, participation, and network neutrality.

Key amendments require the government to produce a motivated list of harmful websites and apps within six months, based on a prior evaluation and a non-binding report from Andorra Digital. The list would face review at least every two years, using proportionate criteria such as violence, sexual content, addictive behaviors, compulsive use, or health impacts. Public mental health strategies must align with these protections, Moliné added.

The PS also proposes better reporting channels for inappropriate content—more accessible, secure, and coordinated. On parental sharing of minors' images, it introduces a preventive ban in cases of parental disagreement until a batlle decides, reversing the government's permissive stance pending judicial ruling.

To clarify oversight, the amendments limit Andorra Digital to technical roles in risk analysis, coordination, recommendations, and periodic reports, explicitly excluding decisions, regulation, or sanctions. Authority rests with the National Commission on Children and Adolescents, which must issue an annual report for transparency amid rapidly evolving threats.

A final provision mandates a six-month adaptation period for administrations and operators.

In recent statements on April 9, Moliné called for "a deep reflection on why we sanction parents" for misuse of social networks by minors, advocating family accompaniment over punishment and questioning penalties tied to Andorra's societal model. Details on integrating this with forthcoming penal code reforms remain unspecified.