Age verification laws, initially crafted to protect minors from explicit online content, are expanding rapidly to include a wide range of products like skincare and diet pills, raising significant privacy concerns. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warns that these laws require extensive collection of personal data, posing a threat to digital freedom and individual privacy without effectively enhancing safety. As these regulations evolve, they lead to an alarming increase in surveillance, necessitating public awareness and advocacy for policies that balance safety and privacy.
First Porn, Now Skin Cream? ‘Age Verification’ Bills Are Out of Control
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) discusses the dangerous expansion of age verification laws in the U.S., originally intended to protect minors from online adult content but now affecting diverse products like skincare and diet pills. Such laws demand extensive personal data collection, posing privacy threats to users of all ages. Despite aiming to enhance online safety, these measures result in broad surveillance, endangering digital freedoms and privacy without providing effective protection.
Key Points
- Age verification laws have expanded beyond their initial intent and now encompass various consumer products, leading to broader privacy concerns.
- These laws require the collection of extensive personal data, undermining user privacy and security with flawed verification systems.
- The EFF argues that these measures, disguised as safety protocols, result in unwarranted surveillance that sacrifices civil liberties.
Action Items
- Educate yourself on age verification laws and their implications for personal privacy and digital freedom.
- Advocate for privacy-respecting policies and support organizations like EFF that challenge invasive digital surveillance measures.
- Engage with policymakers about adopting less invasive methods to enhance online safety that don’t compromise individual privacy and freedoms.