mhoyeFeb 20
Once you realize it’s not “age verification”, but actually “identity verification”, then it’s easy to understand that the real goal is “papers, please” for the entire internet.
Show threadtxtx 🇪🇺Feb 20

@mhoye Unpopular opinion:

Identity verification isn't so unattractive in 2026 — social media is destroying democracies via anonymous armies of bot people steered by aggressive foreign actors like Putin and Musk.

The libertarian model that the Internet was built on is failing societies.

Show threadCassandrichFeb 20
@txtx @mhoye Rightfully unpopular. This is not a libertarian position but an anarchist and antifascist one. It's not Ayn Rand bros who are harmed by needing to show ID to participate in public life. It's queer youth, undocumented folks, unhoused folks, dissidents, ppl living under regimes that don't want them having international contacts, etc. who this shit harms.
Show threadtxtx 🇪🇺Feb 20
@dalias @mhoye Facebook & X are anarchist/anti fascist? I don't agree.
Show threadCassandrichFeb 20
@txtx @mhoye I didn't say Facebook & birdchan are anarchist/anti fascist. I said that the demand that they don't have a hold on our public spaces that only allows people able and willing to dox themselves to participate in public life is anarchist and antifascist.
Show threadtxtx 🇪🇺Feb 20

@dalias It looks like none of that is working. ICE is rounding up anyone they want in the US. Iran is crushing protests. Syria? Egypt? China? Russia? Where has social media helped society in public discourse? It's leading to death everywhere. It's a complete failure in every way possible.

So I can't support the status quo.

Show threadCassandrichFeb 20
@txtx "It's not working so let's try more fascism!" is the brainworms of lots of voters. And it's always an utterly horrible idea.
Show threadtxtx 🇪🇺Feb 20
@dalias So calling me a brainwormed fascist, this is what you use anonymity for? Really nice. Great argument.
Show threadmeta physical deflationist

@txtx @dalias ok so try this. age verification is a type of proof of work system. its easier to prove you are yourself than prove your someone else but for some people(nation states) it is easier to prove your someone else than it is for other people(undocumented) to prove they are themselves

so identity verification means less vulnerable people and more mouth pieces of the state

Feb 20 at 7:56pmWeb