Edward CageMay 6
Tuta

🚨 The UK says it wants to "protect children online"

Yet, forcing EVERYONE to verify their age won't stop harm - but put all of us under surveillance.

Today, we've signed an open letter together with @mullvad @Tor @mozilla & others to stop #AgeVerification in the UK 💪

Read the complete letter: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/2026/05/UK-joint-statement-against-age-gates.pdf

May 6 at 8:45amWeb
Show threadRawiWoofMay 6
@Tutanota @mullvadnet @torproject @mozilla
Do you know what's the saddest part about this AV Digital-Stasi bullshit? That the only people it protects are actual abusers.
How, you may ask? Well, in a place where there are no kids, no kid knows that they're being abused or handled as an abuse material. Because you know, to those people, kids = lesser beings/things/merchandise.
Introducing AV removes the kids' tools for self-defence. Because one can't defend themselves against the threat they don't know about and can't report to anyone. And keep in mind that abusers come from the circles closest to the kids. Because abuser needs to know the victim really well.
Think about it next time you think this crap is a good idea.
Show threadheliumMay 6

@rawenwolf I think if they really "cared" about our kids they would have prosecuted someone in these files.

they unfortunately found their formula with the common people that don't know any better, attaching the phrase "protecting the kids" to every law / legislation that would have mass surveillance implications

while we're actively resisting, I think we're fighting a losing battle, most people aren't educated and big tech / Hollywood always portrayed people trying to stay private as shady

Show threadneutronstarMay 6

@helium1 @rawenwolf
I know right! I’m tirelessly trying to educate the people around me and advocating for the simple human right to privacy and online pseudonymity.

While I can happily say that most people are receptive towards increased privacy, I still meet people who claim that ”privacy = shady business”. Ignoring the fact that much of our modern democracy resides online and most people, including me, feel more comfortable speaking out under a pseudonym rather than a passport.

I believe AV will cut children off from online discussions which will in turn stop them from participating and building their own opinions.

It will also ruin online discussions where people will be increasingly concerned about prosecutions for their own personal opinions.

It will also put an ever increasing veil of mass surveillance on the general populace.

Show threadĞÖKÜ👻👻™May 6
@helium1 @rawenwolf yes we are fighting a losing battle 😔 ☹️. I'm not in favor of AV but I'm totally in favor of stopping kids to use social apps or internet below 18 years
Show threadThe_UniversalityMay 6

@Tutanota The @torproject is the correct mention.

Also check for the mullvad mention :).

Show threadNiniMay 6
@Tutanota Did you not check the mentions properly? Mullvad's is @mullvadnet, Tor Project's is @torproject.
Show threadGoDOT. 🐾May 6
@nini @Tutanota @mullvadnet @torproject 😮‍💨
Show threadMelroy van den BergMay 6
@Tutanota @mullvad @Tor @mozilla not enough contrast in the letter
Show threadSkullGamer205  May 6
@Tutanota, can anyone remind UK about parental control?
Show threadSpace Queen EnthusiastMay 6

@Tutanota Unfortunately, I think this letter will fall upon deaf ears. As we've learned from their response to the OSA repeal petition, their response to any criticism of these laws is to 1: Glaze said laws 2: Imply critics of the laws are sex pests/pedophiles/etc. and 3: Enact even more fascist legislation.

The UK Government (and I'm sure plenty of other governments) is willing to die on the hill of these thinly veiled mass surveillance/censorship laws. They won't stop unless the courts/a future parliament/a general strike forces them to. Because enacting a fascist police state is just too good to pass up.

I would be glad to be wrong and they actually listen but I don't think that will be the case.

#Privacy #Censorship #FreeSpeech #DigitalRights #AgeVerification #Surveillance #Internet #SocialMedia #UK #UnitedKingdom

Show threadIndra 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 🇺🇦May 6
@[email protected] @mullvad @Tor @mozilla Saying it won't help is delusional. 13+ year old girls sexually exposing themselves to older men is virtually ubiquitous on websites like Discord.

Just say you care more about privacy than teenagers. It's fine. Maybe they deserve it in your view. Better that than lying about the situation.
Show threadKierkethumbs up convincinglyMay 6
@mullvad @Tutanota @mozilla @Tor corruption is injury. Off with their heads
Show threadInc Hulk 🧪May 6
@Tutanota @mullvad @Tor @mozilla
Any procedure to try to stop kids getting online to see what they want to see, needs to be brighter than the kids (very few politicians can match them).
Basically, the solutions will not work... Privacy online is a human right in my opinion.
Show threadgbsillsMay 6

@Tutanota @mullvad @Tor @mozilla

While I don't disagree completely with this slippery slope perspective, I don't think that age verification technology is likely to protect kids. A better approach would be to make it easy to sue corporations that allow children to have access to harmful data. Think of it as the "Mrs. Wilson's Class 6 Grade" approach. Sure you can own a strip club, but if you allow Mrs. Wilson's 6 grade class into your strip club you should expect to be sued until you own nothing.

If we make it easy to sue Internet websites for content, I am quite sure that they will be motivated to keep the kids out.