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URLhttps://techcrunch.com/2021/01/19/europe-is-working-on-a-common-framework-for-vaccine-passports/
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Meta TitleEurope is working on a common framework for 'vaccine passports' | TechCrunch
Meta DescriptionThe European Union is preparing the ground for vaccine passports. A common approach for mutual recognition of vaccination documentation is of the "utmost
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The European Union is preparing the ground for vaccine passports. A common approach for mutual recognition of vaccination documentation is of the “utmost importance,” the commission said today , adding that it wants “an appropriate trust framework” to be agreed upon by the end of January — “to allow member states’ certificates to be rapidly useable in health systems across the EU and beyond.” “Vaccination certificates allow for a clear record of each individual’s vaccination history, to ensure the right medical follow-up as well as the monitoring of possible adverse effects,” it writes, adding that: “A common EU approach to trusted, reliable and verifiable certificates would allow people to use their records in other member states. Though it is premature to envisage the use of vaccine certificates for other purposes than health protection, an EU approach may facilitate other cross-border applications of such certificates in the future.” It’s not clear what form (or forms) these pan-EU coronavirus vaccine certificates will take as yet — but presumably there will be both paper-based and digital formats, to ensure accessibility. Nor is it clear exactly how EU citizens’ identity and medical data will be protected as checks on vaccination status take place. Or, indeed, who the trusted entities storing and managing sensitive health data will be. All that detail is to come — and may well vary by member state, depending on how immunity certification verification systems get implemented. Last week a number of tech companies, including Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce, announced involvement in a separate, cross-industry effort to establish a universal standard for vaccination status that they said would build on existing standards, such as the SMART Health Cards specification that adheres to HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). Tech and health companies including Microsoft and Salesforce team up on digital COVID-19 vaccination records Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 That tech-backed effort is pushing for an “encrypted digital copy of [a person’s] immunization credentials to store in a digital wallet of their choice,” with a backup available as a printed QR code that includes W3C-standards verifiable credentials for those not wanting or able to use a smartphone. The PR also talked about a “privacy-preserving health status verification” solution that is at least in part “blockchain-enabled.” Nothing so specific is being proposed for the common EU approach as yet. And it looks clear that a number of vaccine credential standards will be put forward globally — as a potential universal standard. (The commission is touting its forthcoming framework on that front too.) Whatever is devised in the EU must ensure compliance with the region’s data protection framework (which bakes in requirements for security and privacy by design and default when processing people’s information). So it could offer better privacy protection than a private sector-led effort, for example. The EU’s eHealth Network — a body that includes representatives from relevant member states’ authorities who are supported by a wider European Joint Action body, called eHAction — will be responsible for defining the minimum dataset needed for vaccination certificates used at the EU level, per the commission. It says this must include “a unique identifier and an appropriate trust framework ensuring privacy and security.” Expect relevant stakeholders such as Europe’s Data Protection Supervisor and Data Protection Board to weigh in with expert advice, as happened last year with coronavirus contacts tracing apps . EU privacy body urges anonymization of location data for COVID-19 tracking “The commission will continue to work with member states on vaccination certificates that can be recognised and used in health systems across the EU in full compliance with EU data protection law — and scaled up globally through the certification systems of the World Health Organisation,” EU lawmakers add, saying the forthcoming framework will be presented in the WHO “as a possible universal standard.” Commenting in the challenges ahead for developing privacy-safe vaccination verification, Lukasz Olejnik , a Europe-based independent cybersecurity and privacy researcher and consultant, told TechCrunch: “It is tricky to follow privacy by design for this particular [use-case]. It is unclear if anyone will be interested in identifying possible innovative privacy-preserving frameworks such as anonymous cryptographic credentials. “In the end perhaps we will end up with some approach using verifiable credentials, but establishing trust will remain a challenge. What will be the source of trust? Is it possible to prove a particular status without the need to disclose the user identity? These are the core questions.” “I hope this proposal will be public and transparent,” he added of the EU framework. It’s worth emphasizing that all this effort is a bit “cart before the horse” at this stage — being as it’s still not confirmed whether any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccinations, which have been developed primarily to protect the recipient from serious illness, also prevent transmission of the disease or not. Nonetheless, systems for verifying proof of immunization status are fast being spun up — ushering in the possibility of “vaccine passport” checks for travelers within the EU down the road, for example. It’s also not hard to envisage businesses requesting COVID-19 vaccination certification before granting access to a physical facility or service, in a bid to reassure customers they can spend money safety — i.e., once such documentation exists and can be verified in a standardized way. Standardized frameworks for vaccination credentials could certainly have very broad implications for personal freedoms in the near future, as well as wide ramifications for privacy — depending on how these systems are architected, managed and operated. Europe’s privacy and security research community mobilized heavily last year as the pandemic triggered early proposals to develop coronavirus contacts tracing apps — contributing to a push for exposure notification apps to be decentralized to ensure privacy of individuals’ social graph . However efforts toward establishing vaccination certification systems don’t appear to have generated the same level of academic engagement as yet. In an analysis of the implications of immunity certificates, published last month, Privacy International warned that any systems that require proof of vaccination for entry or a service would be unfair “until everyone has access to an effective vaccine” — a bar that remains far off indeed. European countries, which are among the global leaders on COVID-19 vaccination rollouts, have still only immunized tiny minorities of their national populations so far. (Even as the commission today urged member states to set targets to vaccinate a minimum of 80% of health and social care professionals and people over 80 by March 2021; and at least 70% of the total adult population by summer — targets that look like fantastical wishful thinking right now.) “Governments must find alternatives to delivering vaccination schemes that do not perpetuate and reinforce exclusionary and discriminatory practices,” the rights group further urged, also warning that COVID-19 immunity should not be used as a justification for expanding or instating digital identity schemes. Uber and Moderna partner on COVID-19 vaccine access and information When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission . This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Markdown
[Skip to content](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/19/europe-is-working-on-a-common-framework-for-vaccine-passports/#wp--skip-link--target) 06:23:57:12 The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. [Register now.](https://techcrunch.com/events/strictlyvc-san-francisco-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=svcsf2026&utm_content=ticketsales&promo=topbanner&display=) The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. 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A common approach for mutual recognition of vaccination documentation is of the “utmost importance,” the commission [said today](https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-united-front-beat-covid-19_en.pdf), adding that it wants “an appropriate trust framework” to be agreed upon by the end of January — “to allow member states’ certificates to be rapidly useable in health systems across the EU and beyond.” “Vaccination certificates allow for a clear record of each individual’s vaccination history, to ensure the right medical follow-up as well as the monitoring of possible adverse effects,” it writes, adding that: “A common EU approach to trusted, reliable and verifiable certificates would allow people to use their records in other member states. Though it is premature to envisage the use of vaccine certificates for other purposes than health protection, an EU approach may facilitate other cross-border applications of such certificates in the future.” It’s not clear what form (or forms) these pan-EU coronavirus vaccine certificates will take as yet — but presumably there will be both paper-based and digital formats, to ensure accessibility. Nor is it clear exactly how EU citizens’ identity and medical data will be protected as checks on vaccination status take place. Or, indeed, who the trusted entities storing and managing sensitive health data will be. All that detail is to come — and may well vary by member state, depending on how immunity certification verification systems get implemented. [Last week](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/14/tech-and-health-companies-including-microsoft-and-salesforce-team-up-on-digital-covid-19-vaccination-records/) a number of tech companies, including Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce, announced involvement in a separate, cross-industry effort to establish a universal standard for vaccination status that they said would build on existing standards, such as the SMART Health Cards specification that adheres to HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). > [Tech and health companies including Microsoft and Salesforce team up on digital COVID-19 vaccination records](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/14/tech-and-health-companies-including-microsoft-and-salesforce-team-up-on-digital-covid-19-vaccination-records/) Techcrunch event ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 [REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=tc_inline_eb&promo=tc_inline_eb&display=) That tech-backed effort is pushing for an “encrypted digital copy of \[a person’s\] immunization credentials to store in a digital wallet of their choice,” with a backup available as a printed QR code that includes W3C-standards verifiable credentials for those not wanting or able to use a smartphone. The PR also talked about a “privacy-preserving health status verification” solution that is at least in part “blockchain-enabled.” Nothing so specific is being proposed for the common EU approach as yet. And it looks clear that a number of vaccine credential standards will be put forward globally — as a potential universal standard. (The commission is touting its forthcoming framework on that front too.) Whatever is devised in the EU must ensure compliance with the region’s data protection framework (which bakes in requirements for security and privacy by design and default when processing people’s information). So it could offer better privacy protection than a private sector-led effort, for example. The EU’s eHealth Network — a body that includes representatives from relevant member states’ authorities who are supported by a wider European Joint Action body, called eHAction — will be responsible for defining the minimum dataset needed for vaccination certificates used at the EU level, per the commission. It says this must include “a unique identifier and an appropriate trust framework ensuring privacy and security.” Expect relevant stakeholders such as Europe’s Data Protection Supervisor and Data Protection Board to weigh in with expert advice, as happened [last year with coronavirus contacts tracing apps](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/eu-privacy-body-urges-anonymization-of-location-data-for-covid-19-tracking/). > [EU privacy body urges anonymization of location data for COVID-19 tracking](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/eu-privacy-body-urges-anonymization-of-location-data-for-covid-19-tracking/) “The commission will continue to work with member states on vaccination certificates that can be recognised and used in health systems across the EU in full compliance with EU data protection law — and scaled up globally through the certification systems of the World Health Organisation,” EU lawmakers add, saying the forthcoming framework will be presented in the WHO “as a possible universal standard.” Commenting in the challenges ahead for developing privacy-safe vaccination verification, [Lukasz Olejnik](https://twitter.com/lukOlejnik), a Europe-based independent cybersecurity and privacy researcher and consultant, told TechCrunch: “It is tricky to follow privacy by design for this particular \[use-case\]. It is unclear if anyone will be interested in identifying possible innovative privacy-preserving frameworks such as anonymous cryptographic credentials. “In the end perhaps we will end up with some approach using verifiable credentials, but establishing trust will remain a challenge. What will be the source of trust? Is it possible to prove a particular status without the need to disclose the user identity? These are the core questions.” “I hope this proposal will be public and transparent,” he added of the EU framework. It’s worth emphasizing that all this effort is a bit “cart before the horse” at this stage — being as it’s still not confirmed whether any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccinations, which have been developed primarily to protect the recipient from serious illness, also prevent transmission of the disease or not. Nonetheless, systems for verifying proof of immunization status are fast being spun up — ushering in the possibility of “vaccine passport” checks for travelers within the EU down the road, for example. It’s also not hard to envisage businesses requesting COVID-19 vaccination certification before granting access to a physical facility or service, in a bid to reassure customers they can spend money safety — i.e., once such documentation exists and can be verified in a standardized way. Standardized frameworks for vaccination credentials could certainly have very broad implications for personal freedoms in the near future, as well as wide ramifications for privacy — depending on how these systems are architected, managed and operated. Europe’s privacy and security research community mobilized heavily last year as the pandemic triggered early proposals to develop coronavirus contacts tracing apps — contributing to a [push for exposure notification apps to be decentralized to ensure privacy of individuals’ social graph](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/06/eu-privacy-experts-push-a-decentralized-approach-to-covid-19-contacts-tracing/). However efforts toward establishing vaccination certification systems don’t appear to have generated the same level of academic engagement as yet. In an analysis of the implications of immunity certificates, published last month, [Privacy International](https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/4350/anytime-and-anywhere-vaccination-immunity-certificates-and-permanent-pandemic) warned that any systems that require proof of vaccination for entry or a service would be unfair “until everyone has access to an effective vaccine” — a bar that remains far off indeed. European countries, which are among the global leaders on COVID-19 vaccination rollouts, have still only immunized tiny minorities of their national populations so far. (Even as the commission today urged member states to set targets to vaccinate a minimum of 80% of health and social care professionals and people over 80 by March 2021; and at least 70% of the total adult population by summer — targets that look like fantastical wishful thinking right now.) “Governments must find alternatives to delivering vaccination schemes that do not perpetuate and reinforce exclusionary and discriminatory practices,” the rights group further urged, also warning that COVID-19 immunity should not be used as a justification for expanding or instating digital identity schemes. > [Uber and Moderna partner on COVID-19 vaccine access and information](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/12/uber-and-moderna-partner-on-covid-19-vaccine-access-and-information/) Topics [coronavirus](https://techcrunch.com/tag/coronavirus/), [COVID-19](https://techcrunch.com/tag/covid-19/), [eu](https://techcrunch.com/tag/eu/), [privacy](https://techcrunch.com/tag/privacy/), [TC](https://techcrunch.com/category/tc/), [vaccine passports](https://techcrunch.com/tag/vaccine-passports/) *When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://techcrunch.com/techcrunch-affiliate-monetization-standards/). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.* ![Natasha Lomas](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/575a81841b1b431463585c830bffd373.jpg.jpg?w=150) Natasha Lomas Senior Reporter Natasha was a senior reporter for TechCrunch, from September 2012 to April 2025, based in Europe. She joined TC after a stint reviewing smartphones for CNET UK and, prior to that, more than five years covering business technology for silicon.com (now folded into TechRepublic), where she focused on mobile and wireless, telecoms & networking, and IT skills issues. She has also freelanced for organisations including The Guardian and the BBC. Natasha holds a First Class degree in English from Cambridge University, and an MA in journalism from Goldsmiths College, University of London. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/natasha-lomas/) ![Event Logo](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/StrictlyVC-San-Francisco-2026-no-date.png) April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Register now for unfiltered fireside chats and VC insights with leaders from Uber, Replit, Eclipse, and more. Plus, high-value connections that actually move the needle. **Tickets are limited.** [**REGISTER NOW**](https://techcrunch.com/events/strictlyvc-san-francisco-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=svcsf2026&utm_content=ticketsales&promo=rightrail&display=) ## Most Popular - ### [Microsoft offers buyout for up to 7% of US employees](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-offers-buyout-for-up-to-7-of-u-s-employees/) - [Amanda Silberling](https://techcrunch.com/author/amanda-silberling/) - ### [Duolingo is now giving users access to advanced learning content](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/22/duolingo-is-now-giving-users-access-to-advanced-learning-content/) - [Lauren Forristal](https://techcrunch.com/author/lauren-forristal/) - ### [Unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic’s exclusive cyber tool Mythos, report claims](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/21/unauthorized-group-has-gained-access-to-anthropics-exclusive-cyber-tool-mythos-report-claims/) - [Lucas Ropek](https://techcrunch.com/author/lucas-ropek/) - ### [Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO, John Ternus taking over](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/tim-cook-stepping-down-as-apple-ceo-john-ternus-taking-over/) - [Amanda Silberling](https://techcrunch.com/author/amanda-silberling/) - [Connie Loizos](https://techcrunch.com/author/connie-loizos/) Techcrunch event ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. 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San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 [REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=tc_inline_eb&promo=tc_inline_eb&display=) - ### [Blue Origin’s New Glenn put a customer satellite in the wrong orbit during its third launch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/19/blue-origins-new-glenn-put-a-customer-satellite-in-the-wrong-orbit-during-its-third-launch/) - [Sean O'Kane](https://techcrunch.com/author/sean-okane/) - ### [Palantir posts mini-manifesto denouncing inclusivity and ‘regressive’ cultures](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/19/palantir-posts-mini-manifesto-denouncing-regressive-and-harmful-cultures/) - [Anthony Ha](https://techcrunch.com/author/anthony-ha/) - ### [Anthropic launches Claude Design, a new product for creating quick visuals](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/17/anthropic-launches-claude-design-a-new-product-for-creating-quick-visuals/) - [Aisha Malik](https://techcrunch.com/author/aisha-malik/) Keep reading ![Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Appears In Federal Court](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2254192130.jpg?w=1024) **Image Credits:**Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images [Government & Policy](https://techcrunch.com/category/government-policy/) # Authorities arrest special forces soldier who allegedly made \$400K on Polymarket bet involving Maduro operation [Lucas Ropek](https://techcrunch.com/author/lucas-ropek/) 4:32 PM PDT · April 23, 2026 A special forces soldier involved in the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been indicted by the U.S. Justice Department. His alleged crime? Making numerous bets on the prediction market Polymarket that Maduro would be removed from power, for which he is said to have made upwards of \$400,000. Authorities claim Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was involved in the “planning and execution” of Operation Absolute Resolve (the stratagem that toppled and captured the Venezuelan leader), made bets on Polymarket about whether the U.S. would deploy forces into Venezuela and remove Maduro from power. Van Dyke was arrested on Thursday, [CBS reports](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-special-forces-won-409k-bet-maduro-removal-venezuela/), citing a law enforcement source. Federal officials say that Van Dyke’s wagers were informed by classified information he had access to as a result of being a government insider. The government notes that Van Dyke signed nondisclosure agreements prohibiting him from ever divulging, publishing, or revealing “by writing, words, conduct, or otherwise . . . any classified or sensitive information” related to the military operations he was involved with. In December, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account and began making wagers involving “Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets,” officials say. Between December 27, 2025 and January 26 of this year, he allegedly made 13 bets totaling some \$33,034 in total on things like “U.S. Forces in Venezuela . . . by January 31, 2026” and “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026.” Officials say that, after collecting his winnings, Van Dyke also took steps to cover up his ties to the account that made the wagers. Van Dyke faces a variety of charges, including violating the Commodity Exchange Act, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.” Techcrunch event ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 [REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=tc_inline_eb&promo=tc_inline_eb&display=) Prediction markets have inspired controversy ever since their launch. But over the past year, the sites have grown in prominence and influence, striking deals with media outlets and sports organizations while also seeing widespread use, including [by public officials](https://www.npr.org/2026/03/14/nx-s1-5744006/congress-prediction-markets-disclosure-rules). Legislation [is currently being mulled](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/us/politics/congress-betting-ban.html) that would ban public officials from using nonpublic information to make bets on prediction sites. Topics [crime](https://techcrunch.com/tag/crime/), [Government & Policy](https://techcrunch.com/category/government-policy/), [Nicolas Maduro](https://techcrunch.com/tag/nicolas-maduro-2/), [Polymarket](https://techcrunch.com/tag/polymarket/), [prediction sites](https://techcrunch.com/tag/prediction-sites/) *When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://techcrunch.com/techcrunch-affiliate-monetization-standards/). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.* ![Lucas Ropek](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/495cdfd5deaad915a1ad58ab35edcbaa84b90c4ce9b7ded356c5ad1b61884800?s=150&d=identicon&r=g) Lucas Ropek Senior Writer, TechCrunch Lucas is a senior writer at TechCrunch, where he covers artificial intelligence, consumer tech, and startups. He previously covered AI and cybersecurity at Gizmodo. You can contact Lucas by emailing lucas.ropek@techcrunch.com. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/lucas-ropek/) ### Newsletters [See More](https://techcrunch.com/newsletters/) Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news Keep reading ![Redwood Materials Modular Data Center](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Modular_Data_Center_2.jpg?w=1024) **Image Credits:**Redwood Materials [Startups](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/) # Redwood Materials loses COO amid layoffs, restructuring [Sean O'Kane](https://techcrunch.com/author/sean-okane/) 3:44 PM PDT · April 23, 2026 Redwood Materials chief operating officer Chris Lister is leaving the battery recycling company to retire, TechCrunch has learned — and he’s not the only executive that recently departed. Lister, a former vice president who led operations at Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory, has been with Redwood since late 2023. He started as the company’s chief supply chain officer and was quickly promoted to the COO role in 2024. The promotion put him closer in the org chart to Redwood founder and CEO JB Straubel, who was Tesla’s longtime chief technology officer and currently sits on the automaker’s board. Redwood Materials recently informed employees that Lister was retiring, according to an employee who was granted anonymity to speak about the announcement. The company confirmed Lister’s departure to TechCrunch on Thursday. “We wish him the best in his retirement,” a spokesperson said via email. News of Lister’s retirement comes just a few days [after TechCrunch revealed](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/21/redwood-materials-lays-off-10-in-restructuring-to-chase-energy-storage-business/) Redwood Materials recently laid off around 10% of its workforce, or roughly 135 employees. Those cuts were part of a restructuring that Straubel told employees about in an email viewed by TechCrunch earlier this week. He said the shuffle will help support the company’s growing energy storage business. Redwood has recently signed deals with automaker Rivian and artificial intelligence company Crusoe to provide refurbished batteries that can be used as grid storage. Other executives have left Redwood in recent months, too. Bradley Mayhew, Redwood’s vice president of integrated supply chain and a former Tesla employee, left the company earlier this month, according to LinkedIn. Guillermo Urquiza, Redwood’s vice president of mechanical engineering — and another former Tesla employee — left in March. And Carlos Lozano, the company’s vice president of manufacturing, left earlier this year for a leadership role at Panasonic, according to LinkedIn. Techcrunch event ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 [REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=tc_inline_eb&promo=tc_inline_eb&display=) Mayhew, Urquiza, and Lozano didn’t respond to requests for comment. Redwood declined to specifically comment on their departures, but noted that Straubel said in his all-staff email that he is trying to reduce layers of management at the company. Straubel also told employees in his message that “parts of the company have expanded faster than needed” and that he was “more excited than ever with our path ahead as we build the most integrated and cost-effective critical materials and energy storage business in the world.” “We are confident that we can deliver on our critical projects with a smaller team that is more focused,” he wrote. “We have successfully adapted to changes in the market that have bankrupted many of our competitors.” Topics [Exclusive](https://techcrunch.com/tag/exclusive/), [JB Straubel](https://techcrunch.com/tag/jb-straubel/), [Layoffs](https://techcrunch.com/tag/layoffs/), [Redwood Materials](https://techcrunch.com/tag/redwood-materials/), [Startups](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/) *When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://techcrunch.com/techcrunch-affiliate-monetization-standards/). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.* ![Sean O'Kane](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sean-OKane.jpeg?w=150) Sean O'Kane Sr. Reporter, Transportation Sean O’Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry, including Tesla and the many startups chasing Elon Musk. Most recently, he was a reporter at Bloomberg News where he helped break stories about some of the most notorious EV SPAC flops. He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane. You can contact or verify outreach from Sean by emailing [sean.okane@techcrunch.com](mailto:sean.okane@techcrunch.com) or via encrypted message at okane.01 on Signal. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/sean-okane/) ## Latest in Startups [See More](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/) - ![Redwood Materials Modular Data Center](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Modular_Data_Center_2.jpg?w=708) [Startups](https://techcrunch.com/category/startups/) ### [Redwood Materials loses COO amid layoffs, restructuring](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/redwood-materials-loses-coo-amid-layoffs-restructuring/) - [Sean O'Kane](https://techcrunch.com/author/sean-okane/) 49 minutes ago - ![Co-CEO of Salesforce, Bret Taylor, speaks at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AP22166762615783.jpg?w=708) In Brief ### [Bret Taylor’s Sierra buys YC-backed AI startup Fragment](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/bret-taylors-sierra-buys-yc-backed-ai-startup-fragment/) - [Dominic-Madori Davis](https://techcrunch.com/author/dominic-madori-davis/) 3 hours ago - ![A man in glasses lies in bed, illuminated by the soft glow of his smartphone screen.](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/doomscrolling-GettyImages-2195349954.jpg?w=708) [AI](https://techcrunch.com/category/artificial-intelligence/) ### [Meet Noscroll, an AI bot that does your doomscrolling for you](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/meet-noscroll-an-ai-bot-that-does-your-doomscrolling-for-you/) - [Sarah Perez](https://techcrunch.com/author/sarah-perez/) 4 hours ago Keep reading ![Shows a 14-year-old boy as he looks at social media on his mobile phone.](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2243719467.jpg?w=1024) **Image Credits:**David GRAY/AFP / Getty Images [Government & Policy](https://techcrunch.com/category/government-policy/) # These are the countries moving to ban social media for children [Aisha Malik](https://techcrunch.com/author/aisha-malik/) 2:33 PM PDT · April 23, 2026 Over the past several months, many countries have announced plans to restrict social media access for children and teens. Australia [became the first](https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/07/as-australia-bans-social-media-for-kids-under-16-age-assurance-tech-is-in-the-spotlight/) to implement such measures at the end of last year, setting a precedent that other countries are now closely watching. Australia’s regulations, along with other countries’ proposals, aim to reduce the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, which include cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to predators. Of course, there are concerns about privacy regarding invasive age verification and excessive government intervention. Critics, including [Amnesty Tech](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/12/australia-social-media-ban-for-children-and-young-people-an-ineffective-quick-fix-that-will-not-prevent-online-harms/), have said such bans are ineffective and that they ignore the realities of younger generations. Despite this, many nations are moving ahead with proposed legislation. We’ve compiled a list of countries that are considering or have already moved forward with bans on social media for young users. ## Australia Australia became the world’s first country to [ban social media](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp9d3ddqyo) for children under 16 in December 2025. The ban blocks children from using Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. It notably doesn’t include WhatsApp or YouTube Kids. The Australian government has said these social media companies must take steps to keep children off their services. Companies that fail to comply may face penalties of up to \$49.5 million AUD (\$34.4 million USD). The government says these platforms should use multiple verification methods to ensure that people using their services are older than 16. It also notes that they can’t rely on users simply entering their own age. Techcrunch event ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. ### Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt #### Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to \$410. San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 [REGISTER NOW](https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-disrupt-2026/?utm_source=tc&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=tc_inline_eb&promo=tc_inline_eb&display=) ## Austria Austria said in late March that it will [ban social media](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyv70de9exo) for children up to the age of 14. Draft legislation for the ban is expected to be finalized by June. ## **Denmark** Denmark is [set to ban](https://apnews.com/article/denmark-social-media-ban-australia-1e96a3df3276cc2033a6f04effb89f51) social media platforms for children under 15. The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had secured support for the ban from three governing coalition parties and two opposition parties in parliament. The government’s plans could become law as soon as mid-2026, according to the Associated Press. The Danish digital affairs ministry is also launching a “digital evidence” app that includes age verification tools that may be used as part of the ban. ## **France** In late January, French lawmakers [passed a bill](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/27/france-social-media-ban-under-15s) that would ban social media for kids under 15. President Emmanuel Macron has supported the measure as a way to protect children from excessive screen time. The bill still has to get through the country’s Senate before a final vote in the lower house. ## **Germany** In early February, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives discussed a [proposal to bar](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/germanys-cdu-weighs-social-media-age-curbs-under-16s-2026-02-06/) children under 16 from using social media, Reuters reported. However, there were signs that his center-left coalition partners were hesitant to support an outright ban. ## **Greece** Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in April that the country is going to [ban access to social media](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgx1x742x5o) for children under 15 starting January 2027. Mitsotakis says the move is aimed at tackling rising anxiety and sleep problems among children, as well as the addictive design of social media. ## Indonesia Indonesia said in early March that it’s [banning children under the age of 16](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg50168ddgo) from using social media and other popular online platforms. The country plans to start with platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. ## **Malaysia** The Malaysian government said in November 2025 that it plans to [ban social media](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/malaysia-says-plans-ban-social-media-users-under-16-starting-2026-rcna245562) for children under 16. The country plans to implement the ban this year. ## Poland Poland’s ruling party is drafting new legislation that would [ban children under 15](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-27/poland-plans-social-media-ban-for-kids-in-challenge-to-us-tech?embedded-checkout=true) from using social media, Bloomberg reported in February. ## **Slovenia** Slovenia is [drafting legislation](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovenia-preparing-law-ban-access-social-media-minors-under-15-2026-02-05/) to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, the country’s deputy prime minister announced in early February. The government wants to regulate social networks where content is shared, citing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. ## **Spain** Spain’s prime minister announced in early February that the country [plans to ban](https://www.reuters.com/world/spain-hold-social-media-executives-accountable-illegal-hateful-content-2026-02-03/) social media for children under the age of 16. The ban still needs parliamentary approval. The Spanish government is also seeking to create a law that would make social media executives personally accountable for hate speech on their platforms. ## Turkey The Turkish parliament in April [passed a bill](https://apnews.com/article/turkey-social-media-children-restrictions-law-d88963a7446a12cf4963b73d455b5ef7) to restrict social media access for children under 15. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan must now accept the bill for it to pass into law. ## **UK** The United Kingdom is [weighing a ban](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm4xpyxp7lo) on social media for children under 16. The government says it will consult parents, young people, and civil society for their views to determine whether a ban would be effective. It will also consider whether to require social media companies to limit or remove features that drive compulsive use, such as endless scrolling. *This story was originally published in February 2026 and is updated regularly with new information.* Topics [Apps](https://techcrunch.com/category/apps/), [evergreens](https://techcrunch.com/tag/evergreens/), [Government & Policy](https://techcrunch.com/category/government-policy/), [Social](https://techcrunch.com/category/social/), [social media bans](https://techcrunch.com/tag/social-media-bans/) *When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://techcrunch.com/techcrunch-affiliate-monetization-standards/). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.* ![Aisha Malik](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/headshot.jpg?w=150) Aisha Malik Consumer News Reporter Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing [aisha@techcrunch.com](mailto:aisha@techcrunch.com) or via encrypted message at aisha\_malik.01 on Signal. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/aisha-malik/) ![Event Logo](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/StrictlyVC-San-Francisco-2026-no-date.png) April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Register now for unfiltered fireside chats and VC insights with leaders from Uber, Replit, Eclipse, and more. 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The European Union is preparing the ground for vaccine passports. A common approach for mutual recognition of vaccination documentation is of the “utmost importance,” the commission [said today](https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-united-front-beat-covid-19_en.pdf), adding that it wants “an appropriate trust framework” to be agreed upon by the end of January — “to allow member states’ certificates to be rapidly useable in health systems across the EU and beyond.” “Vaccination certificates allow for a clear record of each individual’s vaccination history, to ensure the right medical follow-up as well as the monitoring of possible adverse effects,” it writes, adding that: “A common EU approach to trusted, reliable and verifiable certificates would allow people to use their records in other member states. Though it is premature to envisage the use of vaccine certificates for other purposes than health protection, an EU approach may facilitate other cross-border applications of such certificates in the future.” It’s not clear what form (or forms) these pan-EU coronavirus vaccine certificates will take as yet — but presumably there will be both paper-based and digital formats, to ensure accessibility. Nor is it clear exactly how EU citizens’ identity and medical data will be protected as checks on vaccination status take place. Or, indeed, who the trusted entities storing and managing sensitive health data will be. All that detail is to come — and may well vary by member state, depending on how immunity certification verification systems get implemented. [Last week](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/14/tech-and-health-companies-including-microsoft-and-salesforce-team-up-on-digital-covid-19-vaccination-records/) a number of tech companies, including Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce, announced involvement in a separate, cross-industry effort to establish a universal standard for vaccination status that they said would build on existing standards, such as the SMART Health Cards specification that adheres to HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). > [Tech and health companies including Microsoft and Salesforce team up on digital COVID-19 vaccination records](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/14/tech-and-health-companies-including-microsoft-and-salesforce-team-up-on-digital-covid-19-vaccination-records/) Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA \| October 13-15, 2026 That tech-backed effort is pushing for an “encrypted digital copy of \[a person’s\] immunization credentials to store in a digital wallet of their choice,” with a backup available as a printed QR code that includes W3C-standards verifiable credentials for those not wanting or able to use a smartphone. The PR also talked about a “privacy-preserving health status verification” solution that is at least in part “blockchain-enabled.” Nothing so specific is being proposed for the common EU approach as yet. And it looks clear that a number of vaccine credential standards will be put forward globally — as a potential universal standard. (The commission is touting its forthcoming framework on that front too.) Whatever is devised in the EU must ensure compliance with the region’s data protection framework (which bakes in requirements for security and privacy by design and default when processing people’s information). So it could offer better privacy protection than a private sector-led effort, for example. The EU’s eHealth Network — a body that includes representatives from relevant member states’ authorities who are supported by a wider European Joint Action body, called eHAction — will be responsible for defining the minimum dataset needed for vaccination certificates used at the EU level, per the commission. It says this must include “a unique identifier and an appropriate trust framework ensuring privacy and security.” Expect relevant stakeholders such as Europe’s Data Protection Supervisor and Data Protection Board to weigh in with expert advice, as happened [last year with coronavirus contacts tracing apps](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/eu-privacy-body-urges-anonymization-of-location-data-for-covid-19-tracking/). > [EU privacy body urges anonymization of location data for COVID-19 tracking](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/eu-privacy-body-urges-anonymization-of-location-data-for-covid-19-tracking/) “The commission will continue to work with member states on vaccination certificates that can be recognised and used in health systems across the EU in full compliance with EU data protection law — and scaled up globally through the certification systems of the World Health Organisation,” EU lawmakers add, saying the forthcoming framework will be presented in the WHO “as a possible universal standard.” Commenting in the challenges ahead for developing privacy-safe vaccination verification, [Lukasz Olejnik](https://twitter.com/lukOlejnik), a Europe-based independent cybersecurity and privacy researcher and consultant, told TechCrunch: “It is tricky to follow privacy by design for this particular \[use-case\]. It is unclear if anyone will be interested in identifying possible innovative privacy-preserving frameworks such as anonymous cryptographic credentials. “In the end perhaps we will end up with some approach using verifiable credentials, but establishing trust will remain a challenge. What will be the source of trust? Is it possible to prove a particular status without the need to disclose the user identity? These are the core questions.” “I hope this proposal will be public and transparent,” he added of the EU framework. It’s worth emphasizing that all this effort is a bit “cart before the horse” at this stage — being as it’s still not confirmed whether any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccinations, which have been developed primarily to protect the recipient from serious illness, also prevent transmission of the disease or not. Nonetheless, systems for verifying proof of immunization status are fast being spun up — ushering in the possibility of “vaccine passport” checks for travelers within the EU down the road, for example. It’s also not hard to envisage businesses requesting COVID-19 vaccination certification before granting access to a physical facility or service, in a bid to reassure customers they can spend money safety — i.e., once such documentation exists and can be verified in a standardized way. Standardized frameworks for vaccination credentials could certainly have very broad implications for personal freedoms in the near future, as well as wide ramifications for privacy — depending on how these systems are architected, managed and operated. Europe’s privacy and security research community mobilized heavily last year as the pandemic triggered early proposals to develop coronavirus contacts tracing apps — contributing to a [push for exposure notification apps to be decentralized to ensure privacy of individuals’ social graph](https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/06/eu-privacy-experts-push-a-decentralized-approach-to-covid-19-contacts-tracing/). However efforts toward establishing vaccination certification systems don’t appear to have generated the same level of academic engagement as yet. In an analysis of the implications of immunity certificates, published last month, [Privacy International](https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/4350/anytime-and-anywhere-vaccination-immunity-certificates-and-permanent-pandemic) warned that any systems that require proof of vaccination for entry or a service would be unfair “until everyone has access to an effective vaccine” — a bar that remains far off indeed. European countries, which are among the global leaders on COVID-19 vaccination rollouts, have still only immunized tiny minorities of their national populations so far. (Even as the commission today urged member states to set targets to vaccinate a minimum of 80% of health and social care professionals and people over 80 by March 2021; and at least 70% of the total adult population by summer — targets that look like fantastical wishful thinking right now.) “Governments must find alternatives to delivering vaccination schemes that do not perpetuate and reinforce exclusionary and discriminatory practices,” the rights group further urged, also warning that COVID-19 immunity should not be used as a justification for expanding or instating digital identity schemes. > [Uber and Moderna partner on COVID-19 vaccine access and information](https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/12/uber-and-moderna-partner-on-covid-19-vaccine-access-and-information/) *When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://techcrunch.com/techcrunch-affiliate-monetization-standards/). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.*
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99.6%
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99.4%
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ML Intent Types
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Content Metadata
Languageen-us
AuthorNatasha Lomas
Publish Time2021-01-19 10:42:40 (5 years ago)
Original Publish Time2021-01-19 10:42:40 (5 years ago)
RepublishedNo
Word Count (Total)4,571
Word Count (Content)1,178
Links
External Links46
Internal Links115
Technical SEO
Meta NofollowNo
Meta NoarchiveNo
JS RenderedYes
Redirect Targetnull
Performance
Download Time (ms)1,131
TTFB (ms)1,058
Download Size (bytes)44,201
Shard190 (laksa)
Root Hash11303327329804289390
Unparsed URLcom,techcrunch!/2021/01/19/europe-is-working-on-a-common-framework-for-vaccine-passports/ s443