sperber64Apr 24
Proton

Age verification sounds reasonable until you realize it means every adult hands over their ID just to go online.

We wrote about why this is a terrible idea and what should happen instead.
https://proton.me/blog/keep-age-verification-from-killing-anonymity-online

We must keep age verification from killing anonymity online | Proton

Powerful forces are exploiting parents’ fears to strengthen their toxic business models. Here’s how we stop them.

Proton
Apr 23 at 7:27pmWeb
Show threadbennyApr 23
@protonprivacy really, so you want facial scans....
Show threadJuan GamesApr 23
@protonprivacy Exactly, I don't really mind when a bar asks for your ID to make sure you're over 18 because they see only the birth date once and that's it. What scares me is that digitally one's id will most likely be stored with all the data in it.
Show threadBritstralianApr 24
@juangames @protonprivacy Along with several hundred thousand data points they already hold on you...
Show threadJuan GamesApr 24
@Nigel_Lake @protonprivacy yeah, that's anothe reason
Show threadMia HolteApr 23
@protonprivacy Its not reasonable at all.
Put age restrictions on the hardware instead of the software. Ban smart phones for the youngest kids.
Show threadohmrunApr 23
@protonprivacy
I don't think you're in danger of being taken too seriously after the shenanigans last year.
Show threadph00lt0Apr 23
@protonprivacy terrible. No. No. No. The solution is much more simple: build in better patental control into operating systems. Allow parrents to better guard/configure devices or their minors such as setting the age and what kinds of content their kid may consume. There is absolutely no need for any ID, or facial scan by untustworthy parties and software.
Show threadZoidberg For PresidentApr 23
@protonprivacy Aren't you the company that gave a fascist regime free user data because they just asked?
Show threadnotthatkindofdoctorApr 23
@protonprivacy
Age verification is stupid. Nothing online has ever harmed me the way real life humans did when I was a child.
Show threadcjustindApr 23
@protonprivacy how that, relying on facial scans would be better? This is so obviously yet another wrong path to take.
Show threadGemma ⭐️🔰🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🎐Apr 23
@protonprivacy This would be a whole lot more believeable if Proton's CEO wasn't a publicly-known Trump supporter by his own announcement.
Show threadxs4me2Apr 23

@protonprivacy

Simply unacceptable and another step into a big Brother total control scenario.

What could possibly go wrong…

Show threadYpe KingmaApr 23

@protonprivacy

The question is: can you trust your government tot anonimize your age?

Show threadMarijke LuttekesApr 23

@KingmaYpe @protonprivacy Or: can you trust your government not to hand over your data to a party that is less trustworthy?

Plus, nothing is ever 100% secure. The harder someone tries to sell me their service is safe, the less I believe them.

Show threadYpe KingmaApr 23

@mahryekuh @protonprivacy

Indeed. I think #yivi supports this correctly, but these questions remain. At least in NL I trust the government for this for now.

But only as long as they keep their data in NL.

Show threadque :verifried:Apr 24
@KingmaYpe @protonprivacy yes?
but also, scrutinise and hold accountable etc
Show threadArnel Šarić Sharan May 7
@KingmaYpe @protonprivacy you can't trust the government. End of story.
Show threadOrca 🌻 | 🎀 | 🪁 | 🏴🏳️‍⚧️Apr 23
@protonprivacy
Proton thinks mandatory ID requirement is bad and Proton thinks mandatory facial scans is the solution to age verification.
Piss off.
Show threadDel C Apr 24
@Orca yeah, i'm not convinced facial scanning is such a good idea either. it's just bad ideas all around   @protonprivacy
Show threadWILLIAM B PECKHAMApr 23
@protonprivacy the both parts bother me. The first is for those laws that require you to submit an ID and probably a government ID that identifies you absolutely and that goes into a database. How many databases with IP information have not been broken into in the last decade? That's a much smaller number than the number of ones that have not been broken into. But then the second part is when you use a computer anytime you connect to something or get a service from something, it gets to say, hey, are you a juvenile and it gets an answer. So the predators know exactly where the next victim is. Sure, the honest services can protect those potential victims. But how good a job have they done of that already? If that was a priority, and if any of them, even one, was really good at that job of protecting the potential victims, we wouldn't be considering these laws to begin with. This is a plan that's likely to generate a feeding frenzy!
Show threadHalJor Apr 23
@protonprivacy Holy shiitake!
Show threadYenn dc ☂️Apr 23

@protonprivacy

> The scope of places where age verification is required must be strictly confined to areas like pornography and social media.

While trans people, gay men, sexual health information, black women and sport bras are being defined as pornographic…

I hope it's just extreme naivety.

Show threadDrew has moved to ieji.deApr 23

@protonprivacy

"Given all the online threats out there, the desire to “do something” to protect kids is understandable, even laudable."

And that's what parents are for.

Everything else is FUD created by Meta for their own ends.

Show threadDavid LeP0leApr 24

@protonprivacy

it's time to develop other type of communication on mesh radio networks for example or so
...

Show threadaspraggApr 24

@protonprivacy

> Checks must be conducted entirely client-side, on the user’s device. […] And the code that underpins the system must be open-source, allowing the public to be certain that these expectations are being met.

So, the checks must be on the client, with open source code that the user can inspect… and modify… on their client?

I thoroughly approve (also related, right2repair) - I'm just not convinced you'll be able to sneak it past even the most techno-ignorant of legislators!

Show threadTC Won't Give In To LiesApr 25

@protonprivacy

What an absurd, hysterical take.

Age verification only impacts access to age gated content.

You can still access search engines, news sites, your banking and other apps, etc. Most of the online world is not age gated.

Of course, we need proper data privacy regulation about any data collection, including age verification. That's the real fight, not scaremongering that allows adult content to run riot.

Show threadsabikMay 1

@TCatInReality @protonprivacy
Except many of the age gating schemes include "social media", so that is a lot of the online world

Banking apps already require ID under KYC laws

Show threadBoosh22Apr 28
@protonprivacy agree, it's a step in the wrong direction.
Show thread@FourQ ♿May 1
@protonprivacy It's a step way too far. They'd control all data for everyone. Everything is online, your family, friends, employer, bank, house, shopping, doctors, the lot, and it's only getting worse. Everything has an app, whether it's needed or not & you're simply expected in 2026 to be online.
But they could cut you off for any reason. Lock you out of everything. You'd be more at their mercy than you are now. All because they have your ID linked up.
It's alarming that's not too far fetched.