Upload government papers to go online? That’s our terrifying future | Aliya Bhatia
Summary
Many states and countries are creating laws that require websites to check users’ ages to keep children away from certain content. This age verification often means users must give personal information like government ID or face scans, which raises privacy and safety concerns online.Key Facts
- Over 25 U.S. states and several countries have laws enforcing age checks on mixed-audience websites.
- These laws apply to a wide range of sites, from search engines to news and educational platforms.
- Age verification is also part of social media restrictions for minors in countries like Canada, India, and Australia.
- To verify age, websites may ask for government IDs or other sensitive data like facial scans or search behavior.
- Age verification increases the amount of personal data collected, which risks users’ privacy and anonymity.
- Data breaches have happened with companies that handle age verification, exposing users’ private info.
- The loss of online anonymity could harm vulnerable groups such as political activists, journalists, and people seeking sensitive information.
- Users may hesitate to share or search for information online if they must reveal their identity first.
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