Italy

National jurisdiction · as of 2026-07-15

Italy created a binding age verification duty for adult content providers through Article 13-bis of Decreto-legge 15 settembre 2023, n. 123 (the Decreto Caivano, Youth Hardship Decree), converted with amendments by Legge 13 novembre 2023, n. 159. AGCOM (Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni, the Italian Communications Authority) adopted the implementing technical rules in Delibera n. 96/25/CONS of 8 April 2025, which became binding for Italy based platforms on 12 November 2025. Separately, Article 2-quinquies of the Codice in materia di protezione dei dati personali (Data Protection Code), inserted by Decreto Legislativo 101/2018, sets 14 as the minimum age at which a minor can independently consent to registering for an information society service such as a social media platform. Italy has no enacted national app store or device level age verification mandate; a government sponsored bill to bar social media and video sharing platform access for under 15s remained in pre-parliamentary drafting, still awaiting review by AGCOM and the data protection authority, as of mid 2026.

01

Instruments on record

Decreto-legge 15 settembre 2023, n. 123 (Decreto Caivano, Youth Hardship Decree), Art. 13-bis, converted by Legge 13 novembre 2023, n. 159

In force

D.L. 123/2023, Art. 13-bis, conv. con modificazioni dalla L. 159/2023

Effective 2023-11-14 · Applies to private

Establishes a legal duty for website operators and video sharing platform providers that distribute pornographic images or videos in Italy to verify that users are adults before granting access, delegating the technical and process details to AGCOM.

Age threshold18
PenaltiesAGCOM may order the blocking of noncompliant sites or platforms after a formal warning and 20 day cure period, alongside administrative fines that AGCOM has stated can reach 250,000 euros
Enforcement bodyAGCOM (Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni)
Private suitsno

Source: D.L. 123/2023, Art. 13-bis, conv. con modificazioni dalla L. 159/2023

Delibera AGCOM n. 96/25/CONS dell'8 aprile 2025 (technical and process rules for age verification)

In force

AGCOM Delibera n. 96/25/CONS (8 April 2025), published in Gazzetta Ufficiale 12 May 2025

Effective 2025-11-12 · Applies to private

Adopts the binding technical and process rules that website managers and video-sharing platform providers must use to verify users are adults before granting access to pornographic content, using a dual anonymity model with independent certified third party verifiers so that neither the verifier nor the site learns both the user's identity and the service accessed. Providers established in Italy had six months from publication, until 12 November 2025, to comply; AGCOM published a list of about 48 covered pornographic sites on 31 October 2025, and providers not established in Italy had until 1 February 2026.

Age threshold18
Verification methodsthird party service, digital id
PenaltiesFormal warning with a 20 day cure period, followed by administrative fines of up to 250,000 euros and site or platform blocking orders for continued noncompliance
Enforcement bodyAGCOM (Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni)

Source: AGCOM Delibera n. 96/25/CONS (8 April 2025), published in Gazzetta Ufficiale 12 May 2025

Codice in materia di protezione dei dati personali (Data Protection Code), Art. 2-quinquies, minimum age for social media consent

In force

D.Lgs. 196/2003 (Codice Privacy), Art. 2-quinquies, inserted by D.Lgs. 101/2018

Effective 2018-09-19 · Applies to private

Sets 14 as the minimum age at which a minor can independently consent to processing of personal data for an information society service, including registering for a social media account. Providers must obtain parental consent for users under 14. This functions as Italy's de facto minimum social media registration age, though it is a data protection consent rule rather than a mandated identity verification requirement.

Age threshold14
Verification methodsself declaration, parental consent
Enforcement bodyGarante per la protezione dei dati personali (Italian Data Protection Authority)

Source: D.Lgs. 196/2003 (Codice Privacy), Art. 2-quinquies, inserted by D.Lgs. 101/2018