{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "gdpr-child-consent-age-16-member-states-down-to-13",
  "slug": "gdpr-child-consent-age-16-member-states-down-to-13",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/gdpr-child-consent-age-16-member-states-down-to-13/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/gdpr-child-consent-age-16-member-states-down-to-13.json",
  "claim": "GDPR sets 16 as the age of digital consent, and EU countries may lower it to no less than 13",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"GDPR digital age of consent\"",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "European Union (GDPR Art. 8)",
    "title": "Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Article 8",
    "year": "2016 (applies since May 2018)"
  },
  "quote": "Member States may provide by law for a lower age for those purposes provided that such lower age is not below 13 years.",
  "method": "Text of the regulation (via gdpr-info.eu).",
  "drift": [
    "Applies when consent is the legal basis for online services offered directly to a child; the age differs by country"
  ],
  "interest": "n/a (statutory or regulatory text).",
  "safe_rephrasing": "Under GDPR, children under 16 need parental consent where consent is the basis for online services offered to them, but each EU country can set a lower age of no less than 13.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "GDPR Art. 8 (gdpr-info.eu)",
      "url": "https://gdpr-info.eu/art-8-gdpr/",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "In force",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-17",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-17",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}