Link: Ready or not, age verification is rolling out across the internet

On July 25th, the UK implemented mandatory age verification for sites hosting explicit content, affecting platforms like Reddit and Discord. This move has led to a mix of compliance and evasion among users and platforms.

The UK’s approach is part of a global trend where countries like the US, Australia, and various in Europe are adopting similar age-gating laws. These laws typically require users to provide a form of ID or utilize third-party services for age verification.

Critics argue that handing over sensitive information to third-party verifiers poses significant privacy and security risks. The American Civil Liberties Union highlighted the lack of standardization in these processes as a core issue.

Despite potential privacy violations and data breaches, governments worldwide are advancing towards an age-gated internet. Recent laws in several U.S. states now require age verification for accessing adult content, pushing forward despite constitutional challenges.

The European Union is exploring a centralized digital ID system to streamline age verification while protecting user data. This system would ideally reduce the need for multiple third-party verifiers and elevate privacy standards.

As regulatory bodies champion the safety benefits for children, the broader implications on privacy and freedom remain contentious and unresolved. Moving forward, digital identity and age verification systems will require careful consideration to balance safety with privacy rights. #

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