Explore the Charts

Awareness that fundamental rights apply online is in a literacy recession across the EU, with only 59% of citizens cognizant of their digital legal standing — a 3-point decline year-over-year. A massive 43-point gap exists between the Netherlands (82%) and Bulgaria (39%), suggesting that social media intervention will face substantial enforcement challenges.

Only 44% of EU citizens believe the EU protects digital rights well, while 41% believe it does not. With 12% not using the internet at all, any digital regulation faces a legitimacy gap where a large minority of the population does not feel adequately protected.

Public sentiment across the EU27 demonstrates an overwhelming mandate for regulatory intervention. Mental health risks emerge as the most critical concern, with 93% demanding public action, 67% categorising it as very urgent. Cyberbullying and age-assurance mechanisms are both viewed as urgent by 92% of the population.

Overwhelming public support (83-89%) for proactive digital governance, with security, disinformation and AI ethics as top priorities. This creates a strong political mandate for child protection measures in the digital space.