Talking Tech with Aliya Bhatia & David Klotsonis on Protecting Minors Online: A Transatlantic View on Platform Safety

At the end of last year, CDT Europe’s David Klotsonis and CDT US’ Aliya Bhatia sat down for a transatlantic conversation on one of the most pressing digital policy challenges today: protecting minors online. Drawing on their work tracking debates in both the EU and the US, they unpack how policymakers and platforms are trying to make online spaces safer for young people. The discussion ranges from the influence of platform design choices—like recommender systems—to more controversial tools such as age assurance, with its complex risks and trade-offs. Together, David and Aliya reflect on where approaches align, where they diverge, as well as what these choices mean for the future of child safety online.