Age verification laws are proliferating fast across the United States and around the world, creating a dangerous and confusing tangle of rules about what we’re all allowed to see and do online. That's why today, we're launching EFF.org/Age, a one-stop shop for users seeking to understand what these laws actually do, what’s at stake, why EFF opposes all forms of age verification, how to protect yourself, and how to join the fight for a free, open, private, and yes—safe—internet.

This has me wondering what’s going to happen to platforms like this. How would age verification even work here? Would it work?

  • Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org
    2·
    1 day ago

    I’ve been personally wondering about these laws. I am thankfully in a place that doesn’t require them yet. But I assume that some asshole somewhere is going to want our data and say “wow that sounds like a great idea.”

    My assumption is that i would feed false data to bypass if possible and then say fuck it and not use whatever service it is if I don’t really need to use it. If I do need to use it and have no choice, then I guess I’m SOL and will have my data breached at some point because none of these services seem to know how to lock down their shit properly.

    Sorry for the frustration lol. I just think this kind of thing is stupid and a way to steal info or watch people. I don’t think this is genuinely about safety or helping children. Especially with the latter it always seems governments throw in a bundle of laws along side any “protect the kids” laws so that they can fly under the radar while screwing people over.

    • ɔiƚoxɘup@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      You are exactly correct and you’re definitely justified in your frustration. It’s laws like this that caused me to stop using Blue sky because Blue sky decided that they would go ahead and ask for age verification in advance of their actual legal obligation to do so.

      On principle I felt required to stop using the service but in addition to that it’s a clear violation and really Blue sky just isn’t worth it.

      So instead of doing the age verification I just froze my account and haven’t looked back. I deleted all of my posts and all of my likes and the account is sitting there idle in case they decide to change their mind. I don’t think it’s going to happen, I think they’re too afraid of litigation.