Global Push for Online Age Verification Sparks Censorship and Privacy Concerns
TL;DR Summary
The UK’s new Online Safety Act has led to widespread censorship and privacy issues on platforms like Reddit, forcing users to submit sensitive ID or face being locked out, which raises concerns about increased surveillance, censorship, and ineffective protection for minors. The chaos and technical flaws in the rollout serve as a warning for similar legislation in the US, where expanding age verification could threaten free speech and privacy rights. Advocacy groups urge Americans to oppose such laws to prevent similar consequences.
Topics:world#digital-rights#online-safety#privacy-concerns#reddit-censorship#technology#uk-age-verification
- Americans, Be Warned: Lessons From Reddit’s Chaotic UK Age Verification Rollout Electronic Frontier Foundation
- U.K. Forces Porn Sites to Get Serious on ‘Age-Gating’ The New York Times
- The UK's Online Safety Act is a licence for censorship – and the rest of the world is following suit | Taylor Lorenz The Guardian
- What Are VPNs And Will They Undermine Online Safety Rules? Bloomberg
- Age Verification Is Sweeping Gaming. Is It Ready for the Age of AI Fakes? WIRED
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