Epic CEO Criticizes EU’s Fortnite Ban for Kids as Harmful to Future Generations

Epic’s CEO and founder, Tim Sweeney, has voiced strong opposition to a proposed European Union law that would prevent children aged 14 and under from accessing AI chatbots, online games, and social media. He described the initiative as “terrible,” emphasizing the significance of games like Fortnite and Roblox for the development of the next generation.

On September 14, a report revealed that the EU is planning to introduce a ban that would significantly limit access for kids under 15 to online games, video platforms, social media apps, and chatbots. The document outlines that the EU’s strategy should enable minors to harness the vast potential of digital services while safeguarding them from exploitation. It stresses the need to restrict tech companies’ access to children rather than the other way around.

Under the proposed regulations, children aged 15 and older would be allowed to create their own accounts freely. Those aged 13 and 14 could request parental assistance to set up “introductory accounts” with limited access and strict time constraints. Kids between 3 and 12 would only be able to use child accounts fully managed by their parents, which would grant access solely to child-friendly services and apps. Children under 3 would not have any legal access to online games or apps.

While the specifics may evolve before the official announcement, the EU will collaborate with member countries in the coming months to refine the proposal for it to become law. However, the suggested ban is already facing criticism from Sweeney, who took to Twitter to express his concerns.

“This would be terrible for the next generation of humanity,” he tweeted. “The apps and games of today are the paintbrushes and tree forts of yesterday. Fortnite has Creative Mode, Roblox has Roblox Studio, and being a digital creator is within everyone’s reach, until politicians take it away.”

Despite Sweeney’s genuine concern for children’s rights to access digital content, some online commentators noted that Epic could also be significantly affected financially if 12-year-olds were suddenly unable to play Fortnite easily.

This proposed EU ban is just one of many regulations being discussed in 2026 as tech companies and various countries, including the United States, grapple with the future of the internet. In several U.S. states, age verification is required to access adult content, while Australia has implemented a law mandating credit card use for Steam to protect children.

Critics of these regulations have raised alarms about privacy issues and warned that such laws could be used to limit information and restrict adults’ access to much of the open web.