If every country starts requiring that people provide official ID in order to "verify their age" to use social media, there will be no way to use any social media without associating the account with a legal identity.

This is horrible for democracy,
and should terrify everyone.

It doesn't matter if platforms use third-parties or not. It doesn't matter if they use some special encrypted code, the result is the same. This gatekeeps open discussions and government criticisms free from reprisals.

This is bad.
This is China "free-speech" bad.

#Democracy #AgeVerification #Privacy

You can defeat #googles AI Age Verification by using https://thispersondoesnotexist.com

 Just tested it myself

#google #ai #aiverification #ageverification #hack #it #itnews

Discord hack shows risks of online age checks

https://news.sky.com/story/discord-hack-shows-dangers-of-online-age-checks-as-internet-policing-hopes-put-to-the-test-13447618

#HackerNews #DiscordHack #OnlineSafety #AgeVerification #CyberSecurity #InternetRisks

Stuff that you don’t see on Reddit in the UK because you aren’t age verified, Part 2

From groups which are not normally NSFW:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UKfood/comments/1o425c8/inspiration/

#ageVerification #censorship #onlineSafety #onlineSafetyAct #reddit #surveillance #vpns

Predictably, #AgeVerification has turned out to be an excellent shortcut for people whose trade is identity theft.

#Privacy #OnlineSafetyAct #OSA

https://www.destructoid.com/1-5tb-of-those-temporary-photos-you-used-to-verify-your-discord-age-are-now-in-the-hands-of-hackers/

#Apple and #Google reluctantly comply with #Texas #AgeVerification law

The Texas App Store Accountability Act requires app stores to verify users' ages and imposes restrictions on those under 18. Apple said that #developers will have "to adopt new capabilities and modify behavior within their apps to meet their obligations under the law."
#privacy #security

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/10/apple-and-google-reluctantly-comply-with-texas-age-verification-law/

#Apple and #Google Reluctantly Comply With #Texas #AgeVerification Law

Apple yesterday announced a plan to comply with a Texas age verification law and warned that changes required by the law will reduce #privacy for app users. "Beginning January 1, 2026, a new state law in Texas -- #SB2420 -- introduces age assurance requirements for app marketplaces and developers," Apple said yesterday in a post for #developers.
#security #rights

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/10/09/2044214/apple-and-google-reluctantly-comply-with-texas-age-verification-law?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed

'Happy Gilmore' Producer Buys #Spyware Maker #NSOGroup

Plus: US government #cybersecurity staffers get reassigned to do #immigration work, a #hack exposes sensitive age-verification data of #Discord users, and more.
#privacy #security #ageverification #happygilmore

https://www.wired.com/story/happy-gilmore-producer-buys-spyware-maker-nso-group/

#Estonia is right to speak out against social media ban for kids. We are living in the information society and young people should be included in the information #society.

The EU already has digital rules that offer strong protections for young #people and require stricter enforcement.

Instead of age limit on social media, #EU countries should invest in education and preparing people to live in the digital age. https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-liisa-ly-pakosta-breaks-the-ranks-on-minors-protection
#socialmedia #youth #ageverification #Europe