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Cory Doctorow argues that proposed age verification mandates for children online are actually mass surveillance schemes that will lead to VPN bans, ultimately harming privacy rather than protecting kids.
Anthropic updated its privacy policy to require some flagged Claude users to upload government-issued ID for identity verification, as part of an appeals process to avoid account bans, amid regulatory and White House pressures.
The article argues that age verification laws requiring facial recognition and government ID are actually forced identity tracking that threatens privacy, as biometric data cannot be changed if leaked.
The UK government is considering age-gating VPN usage as part of a social media ban for under-16s, with minister Liz Kendall stating details will come in July amid ongoing consultation on children's online safety.
The UK government announced a ban on social media for children under 16, set to take effect in spring 2027, with age verification requirements and potential overnight curfews for minors.
Roblox is implementing video selfie age estimation to verify users' ages, as a demo showed kids could not fool the system. The company reports a drop in daily users after rolling out age checks but stands by the measures.
The UK government announced a full social media ban for under-16s, covering platforms like X, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, with additional restrictions on livestreaming and AI chatbots. The ban will be implemented in early 2027 following legislation later this year.
A think tank warns that proposed age verification mandates for online services could increase risks to children and exclude adults, rather than effectively reducing harm.
Apple is rolling out age verification for new Apple accounts in Texas starting June 4th, 2026, to comply with the state's App Store Accountability Act, requiring users to verify they are over 18 via credit card or government ID, while minors must join Family Sharing groups for parental consent.
The article argues that global efforts to mandate age verification for social media, ostensibly to protect children, actually risk enabling widespread government surveillance and control over the internet, undermining privacy and democratic rights.
Malaysia has begun enforcing rules banning children under 16 from owning social media accounts, requiring platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to implement age-verification systems or face fines.
Yoti's age verification process reportedly shares users' facial photos and device fingerprints with third parties, raising privacy concerns.
California lawmakers propose exempting most open-source operating systems from the state's age-verification law after backlash from Linux developers and privacy advocates.
GitHub's blog post explains how age assurance laws aimed at protecting minors online could inadvertently burden open source developers and infrastructure, and urges policymakers to scope such laws appropriately.
Colorado amended its age verification bill SB051 to exclude open source projects, providing relief for the open source community.
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has labeled VPNs 'a loophole that needs closing' in the context of online age-verification laws, raising concerns about children bypassing regional content restrictions. The push has sparked pushback from privacy advocates and VPN providers, highlighting tensions between child safety regulation and digital privacy rights.
Brussels launched an age-checking app for online verification, but security researchers demonstrated they could bypass its protections in just 2 minutes, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of such government-mandated age verification systems.
OpenAI is building an age prediction system for ChatGPT to tailor experiences for users under 18, with automatic content restrictions and parental control features launching by month-end. The system will default to the safer under-18 experience when age is uncertain, and includes new features like blackout hours and distress notifications for parents.
OpenAI outlines its approach to balancing teen safety, user freedom, and privacy in ChatGPT, including building an age-prediction system, parental controls, and stricter content rules for under-18 users. The company also signals plans for advanced privacy features and advocates for AI conversation privilege with policymakers.