EU Chief Warns of AI-Powered Hacking, Moves to Rein In Social Media
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed concerns about the rapidly advancing capabilities of Artificial Intelligence and the detrimental effects of social media on young people. She emphasized Europe’s commitment to shaping global AI policy, prioritizing human control over AI systems, and implementing stricter regulations for social media usage among minors. Her speech highlighted a desire to reverse the power dynamic with Big Tech, focusing on holding platforms accountable for protecting children and preventing the spread of harmful content.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered the State of the European Union 2026 speech on September 16, 2026, focusing on a range of pressing issues including European political theory, economic challenges, and current crises. She began by acknowledging the potential benefits of Artificial Intelligence, while simultaneously warning of the significant risks associated with its development, particularly the ability of AI to be used for advanced hacking. She stressed the importance of maintaining human control over AI systems, citing the Hugging Face incident as an example of the potential dangers of self-improving models.
Von der Leyen outlined the EU’s approach to AI regulation through the AI Act, aiming to establish global standards and prevent the misuse of AI technology. She underscored that Europe doesn’t need to develop cutting-edge AI models to benefit from its advancements, but rather to create value in areas like healthcare (such as AI-assisted mammography), smart grids, and autonomous driving. Her vision is to empower doctors, not replace them with robots, and to ensure AI supports real-world applications.
Turning to social media, von der Leyen expressed deep concern about its impact on young Europeans, noting that children are spending increasingly more time online and becoming susceptible to addictive content and cyberbullying. She cited the tragic case of Olea Orban, a 14-year-old girl who died by suicide after experiencing severe cyberbullying, highlighting the devastating consequences of unchecked social media use.
To address these issues, the EC is proposing a new Kids Act, advocating for a phased approach with restrictions on social media access for minors. This includes prohibiting social media accounts for children under 13, limiting access for those aged 13-15 to supervised mini accounts with time restrictions, and implementing ‘safe design’ requirements for platforms. She also announced plans for a Digital Fairness Act, aiming to tackle broader issues like addictive design and the exploitation of children's images for AI-generated content.
Von der Leyen acknowledged the difficulty of challenging the dominance of Big Tech while maintaining economic alliances and fair trade, framing the effort as a delicate balancing act. She stated that Europe will not accept addictive features or allow children to be exposed to harmful content, asserting its power to set the rules for social media usage.