Switzerland plans youth protection rules for large platforms and search engines

Switzerland's Federal Council has announced plans to strengthen online protections for children as part of a new law covering large communication platforms and search engines, including services such as Google, Facebook and YouTube. The measures were agreed at the government's meeting on 14 October 2026 and will be built into an existing draft bill.

The draft law, known as the Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines (KomPG), is designed to strengthen users' rights and oblige providers to be more transparent. The Federal Council said people increasingly inform themselves and form opinions through such platforms, which in turn shape public debate. It would apply only to very large platforms and search engines, including AI-powered search, and would not be extended to smaller services.

What the new youth protection measures would require

The government is holding to the draft it consulted on, but has decided to expand child protection significantly. Very large platforms and search engines would have to assess whether their services create or increase risks for minors, and take measures to reduce those risks. The Federal Council said the aim is to let young people use major services more safely while respecting their right to take part in public debate.

Providers would also be banned from showing advertising to minors based on profiling, meaning the analysis of their online behaviour and personal characteristics. In addition, the reporting procedure would be extended so users can easily flag all allegedly unlawful content, not only a narrower set.

The Federal Council also said it will decide, on the basis of two parliamentary motions numbered 24.4480 Vara and 24.4592 Graf, whether further youth protection measures should be written into the legal framework.

Broad support, but not unanimous

The consultation, which ran from October 2025 to February 2026, drew 214 responses. A majority backed the proposal, including most parties represented in parliament, most cantons and the national umbrella organisations.

The parties supporting the plans are the Centre, the SP, the Greens, the GLP and the EVP, along with 22 cantons. Opposed are the cantons of Schwyz and Thurgau and the FDP, the SVP and the EDU, which raised concerns including a possible threat to freedom of opinion and information. The expansion of youth protection follows calls from the Green Party, which tabled parliamentary motions on the issue.

The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) to prepare a formal bill by the end of June 2027, drawing in the Federal Department of Home Affairs and the Federal Social Insurance Office for the youth protection provisions. Parliament will then decide on the law.

Background: claims over harm to children

For readers following harm to children on major platforms, the Swiss plans come as litigation continues elsewhere. On 25 March 2026 a jury in Los Angeles returned a verdict finding Meta and Google negligent in the design or operation of Instagram and YouTube and in failing to warn, in a US case brought over a young woman known as K.G.M. In a separate social media lawsuit, a Kentucky county school district's case against Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube settled before its June 2026 trial, with no figure disclosed, and further school district trials in Tucson and Charleston County are due to begin in 2027.

Anyone affected by the issues in this article can contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.