US Activists Battle the Rise of the Age-Gated Internet
▼ Summary
– Congress is considering 19 online safety bills, many of which include age-verification requirements, potentially impacting the future of the internet.
– The organization Fight for the Future is hosting events to oppose these bills, arguing they create dangerous precedent by increasing censorship and surveillance.
– Key bills discussed include the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and a bill to ban minors under 16 from social media, raising concerns over privacy and AI.
– Age-verification laws are spreading, with 25 U.S. states and countries like the UK and Australia implementing similar mandates, often relying on third-party services.
– An activist argues these laws threaten democratic freedom, comparing their rationale to arguments used for book bans and restrictions on healthcare information.
A significant shift is underway in how people access the internet, driven by a wave of proposed legislation focused on online safety. Lawmakers in the United States are currently reviewing numerous bills that would mandate age verification for accessing certain online content, a move activists argue creates more risks than it solves. This push for what some call an “age-gated internet” is sparking a fierce debate about privacy, censorship, and the fundamental nature of the web.
Digital rights groups are mobilizing in response. The organization Fight for the Future is holding a series of online events this week to spotlight their concerns. They contend that requiring ID uploads, facial scans, or other authentication methods to prove a user is not a minor will normalize surveillance and lead to increased censorship for everyone, not just children. Campaigner Sarah Philips notes a disconnect between public sentiment and political action. “We’re seeing this huge wave toward ID checks being the norm in tech policy,” Philips states. “If you look at the content people are making about these laws online, it’s very unpopular. But in Congress, it’s viewed as common-sense.”
The legislative activity is substantial. A recent congressional hearing examined 19 separate online safety proposals. Among them are high-profile bills like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which already passed the Senate, and another that would prohibit social media platforms from hosting users under 16. Beyond age checks, these proposals delve into issues of parental controls, how companies can research minor users, artificial intelligence, and broader data privacy concerns.
This trend is not confined to Capitol Hill. Age verification laws have now been enacted in half of all U.S. states, with Missouri’s rule just taking effect. The common method involves third-party verification services, which privacy advocates warn are attractive targets for hackers and data breaches. The movement is global, with the United Kingdom implementing its own Online Safety Act and Australia preparing to enforce a ban that requires social media companies to remove users under 16.
Philips draws a direct line between these internet regulations and other contentious political issues, particularly in her home region. “These are censorship laws,” she argues. “In the South, where I live, these same proposals mimic a lot of the arguments that you see behind book bans and behind laws that criminalize gender-affirming health care or abortion information.” As major platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok begin complying with these new international rules, the battle over the future of an open and private internet is intensifying.
(Source: Wired)
