US EditionAge Verification Is Coming for the Internet — and It’s Already Raising Red Flags
States and platforms are adopting age checks as child-safety advocates and regulators push for more restrictions, while critics warn of privacy and free-expression risks.
- Mandatory age verification is gaining traction nationwide as more states pass laws, while the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act introduced in March would require platforms to deploy verification measures.
- What began as an effort to bolster kids' safety online has morphed into a broader debate over privacy, though Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said such technologies are "some of the most child-protective technologies to emerge in decades."
- Discord delayed its system rollout in February after a data breach exposed 70,000 users' IDs, while Roblox users reported inaccurate age estimates or bypassed systems when biometric checks launched in January.
- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a state bill this month, objecting to "intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents," while critics argue mandates undermine anonymous speech and create data security risks.
- Australia implemented a social media ban for users under 16 this year that many continue to bypass, though Executive Director Iain Corby of The Age Verification Providers Association argues for "double-blind" assurance to protect data.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Age verification is coming for the internet — and it's already raising red flags
What began as an effort to bolster kids’ safety online has morphed in recent months into a broader debate over privacy and anonymity on the internet. Mandatory age verification, which requires websites and apps to confirm or estimate users’ ages before they grant access to certain content, has continued to gain traction nationwide, as more states pass laws mandating some form of it. Supporters argue the rules are necessary to protect children fr…
Age verification is coming for the internet — and it’s already raising red flags | #childpredator | #onlinepredator | #sextrafficing - National Cyber Security Consulting
What began as an effort to bolster kids’ safety online has morphed in recent months into a broader debate over privacy and anonymity on the internet. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Mandatory age verification, which requires websites and apps to confirm or estimate users’ ages […] Thank you for subscribing to our RSS feed! The post Age verification is coming for the internet — …
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