Charter Statement On Bill C-34 is Weaponized Idiocy

The Canadian government published a charter statement on the age verification bill and it's just a sight to behold how bad it is.

https://www.freezenet.ca/charter-statement-on-bill-c-34-is-weaponized-idiocy/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #BillC34 #Canada #CharterOfRightsAndFreedoms #CivilRights #JusticeDepartment #PersonalInformation #SocialMedia

I was looking at my blog which I've been posting to since 2007 or so and I noticed that in 2009, a social site called Xanga required mail in (yes, physical mail in) age verification. They had been recently fined a million USD for allowing children under 13 to use the site. Age verification laws are nothing new. #ageverification

It sure looks like hackers breached a major ID card verification service

An identity theft search site claimed to have more than 150 million driver’s license photos stolen from an ID verification service. The crime site has now shut down.

https://justpaste.in/news/it-sure-looks-like-hackers-breached-a-major-id-card-verification-service/

#ageverification #cybersecurity #databreach #identitytheft #identityverification

Social media bans for children? Barlow called it, 30 years ago;

"You are terrified of your own children, since they are natives in a world where you will always be immigrants. Because you fear them, you entrust your bureaucracies with the parental responsibilities you are too cowardly to confront yourselves."

#JohnPerryBarlow, 1996

https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence

(1/2)

#B416 #SocialMediaBans #AgeVerification #AgeGating

Age Verification Sparks Surge in VPN Interest: Research

New research is, yet again, confirming that whenever the government implements censorship laws, VPN interest soon follows.

https://www.freezenet.ca/age-verification-sparks-surge-in-vpn-interest-research/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #OnlineSafetyAct #research #UK #VPN

Florida Age Verification Ruling Shocks, Baffles Experts

A ruling green lighting Florida's age verification law has left experts baffled after it completely redefines speech.

https://www.freezenet.ca/florida-age-verification-ruling-shocks-baffles-experts/

#Censorship #News #AgeVerification #court #Florida #ruling #US

TSA Failed to Secure Facial Recognition Scans of Passengers

If you think age verification companies are the only ones that can't secure their information, the TSA proved otherwise.

https://www.freezenet.ca/tsa-failed-to-secure-facial-recognition-scans-of-passengers/

#News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #aviation #FacialRecognition #government #PersonalInformation #travel #TSA #US

The #EU #KIDSAct draft requires #ageverification for #Mastodon #instances, removing exemptions for small providers. Technical conflicts arise between #ActivityPub’s #publicaccess and #restrictedvisibility for minors. Costs and control issues affect #decentralisednetworks. https://www.heise.de/en/background/Age-verification-in-the-Fediverse-How-the-KIDS-Act-challenges-Mastodon-11474306.html?Fedizen.EU #Fedizen #Fediverse #ActivityPub #News

EFF: When No ID Means No Internet: Age Verification and the Right to Access Information. “Age verification proposals are often presented as a simple tradeoff: sacrifice a little privacy to better safeguard children online. But that framing overlooks a more fundamental question. What happens to people who cannot verify their age at all? This is particularly a problem when users are required to […]

#KidsAct

Deadline extended: EU Commission seeks feedback on #EUKidsAct until 3 December 2026:
→ https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/19418-Child-online-safety-keeping-digital-spaces-accountable-and-trustworthy-EU-Kids-Act-_en
#HaveYourSay

There are already 2327 comments.

Still not discussed enough: „ #AgeVerification in the #Fediverse: How the KIDS Act challenges #Mastodon “ Can/will #Activitypub , apps and instances adapt?
→ https://www.heise.de/en/background/Age-verification-in-the-Fediverse-How-the-KIDS-Act-challenges-Mastodon-11474306.html

"Roughly 15 million adult U.S. citizens lack a driver’s license, and a further 2.6 million lack any government photo ID; leaving large groups blocked from online content or services. The UK has a similar predicament: proof-of-age checks are often reliant on passports, driver’s licenses, or other recognized alternatives, which can pose unique challenges to people without these documents.

Much of the advocacy around age verification discusses the privacy harms of age verification. Yet these measures also threaten something more fundamental: equal access to information and the ability to exercise the right to freedom of expression.

Unfortunately, age verification systems foster unequal access to information and provide an asymmetric solution to find essential information, build community, and weigh in on public discourse. As governments and companies increasingly require users to prove their age before accessing online services, these individuals risk being excluded from large parts of the internet altogether."

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/when-no-id-means-no-internet-age-verification-and-right-access-information

#SocialMedia #AgeVerification #Censorship #DigitalRights #FreedomOfExpression

More than half of US states now require age verification, often with a government ID. But ~17.6M US adults have no license or photo ID and can be locked out. So what: when a site offers a choice, use on-device age checks, not an ID upload. eff.org/age

#ageverification #privacy #indigoprivacy

Discord’s age-verification era is upon us, despite community backlash

According to Discord, 90% of users will not have to verify their age.

https://justpaste.in/news/discords-age-verification-era-is-upon-us-despite-community-backlash/

#ageverification #discord #Social #data #verification

@EUCommission the #ageverification push in the #eukidsact is the most anxiety-inducing thing I've seen in my feed in at least the past 5 years..

When No ID Means No Internet: #AgeVerification and the Right to Access Information

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/when-no-id-means-no-internet-age-verification-and-right-access-information

#privacy #cybersecurity

Internet Age Verification
= Surveillance under the logic of "protecting children".

(Rules are often disguised for one reason but are created for another reason only the rule-makers know / plan.)

#Internet #AgeVerification #Surveillance

#EU people and #gamedev people, email your MEPs to oppose the EU Kids Act! It is terrible and will kill the games industry there!

What it will do:
- Require your personal identifying information to play an online video game(which is any game that can use any kind of internet, e.g. to update)
- Make it illegal to operate an online video game without age verification
- Make ALL private game servers illegal
- Raise costs on devs by rouighly ~£300k to ~£500k for the first year(~£200k-£300k for subsequent years)

What it might do:
- Make all digitally distributed games require personal identification and an age verification process
- Make most linux distros illegal
- Collapse the EU video game market except for big AAA publishers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQRcK9nYg9g

#authoritarianism #stopkillinggames #stopkillingtheinternet #ageverification

Dear #Admins & #Developers of the #Fediverse,

ICYMI: #AgeVerification (and more) vs. the #Fediverse: How the EU #KidsAct challenges #Mastodon (& Co.)

must-read by @wintermeyer
→ https://www.heise.de/en/background/Age-verification-in-the-Fediverse-How-the-KIDS-Act-challenges-Mastodon-11474306.html

The EU Commission seeks feedback until ⏰️ 26 Nov. 2026:
→ https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-seeks-feedback-eu-kids-act

cc @fediforum @ @teamtoot @admin @itteam @dansup @fed.brid.gy @fediway

#Fediforum #Fediadmin #Fedikirche #FediLZ #Fediday #OpenSocialWeb #Loops #Pixelfed #ActivityPub #CivicTech

You cannot make the Internet safer for children.

As a child, I lied about my age all the time. As a child, I would use my parents I.D. As a child, I would obtain a pre-paid debit card.

As a child, I did not give a f-ck. If there was a will, there was away, and I had a very strong will and found a lot of ways.

The children of today are smarter and likely more entitled than I ever was.

Age verification is a pipe dream.

#AgeVerification #Internet #Safety

You cannot make the Internet safer for children.

As a child, I liked about my age all the time. As a child, I would use my parents I.D. As a child, I would obtain a pre-paid debit card.

As a child, I did not give a f-ck. If there was a will, there was away, and I had a very strong will and found a lot of ways.

The children of today are smarter and likely more entitled than I ever was.

Age verification is a pipe dream.

#AgeVerification #Internet #Safety

The UK social media ban is coming.

That means every adult having to show their ID to get online.

Age verification puts privacy at risk. Curbs freedom of expression. And simply doesn't work to keep kids safe online.

The government needs to change course. But the clock is ticking.

Sign the petition ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/say-no-id-online-access

#ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #onlinesafety #socialmediaban #ukpolitics #ukpol #digitalrights

"On September 17, the European Commission proposed the EU KIDS Act, which would ban social media for children under 13 and allow teenagers to create their own accounts on social media only from the age of 15. For children aged 13 to 15, the officials proposed parental controls that enable guardians to set up mini accounts, which children access through the guardian's account. These mini accounts would come with limited social contacts and screen time of up to one hour per day, the EU Commission states.

Children aged 3 to 13 could not access social media, but they could "access specially designed child-friendly video-sharing services through accounts managed by their guardian," as mentioned on the official website. Platforms would also have to give parents an easy tool to restrict their own device to such services when handing it to a child, with the same one-hour daily limit. Platforms will also have to show that their services are age-appropriate and safe.

The Commission introduces a "safety-by-design" principle for social media, video-sharing platforms, online games, AI tools and chatbots used by minors. It bans addictive features, such as “recommender feeds based on profiling, infinite scroll without stopping points, reward tricks, push notifications during sleeping hours, and unsolicited contact from strangers”. AI agents and chatbots must not simulate relationships in ways that create emotional dependence.

Online services and app stores must use age-assurance tools, for example, the EU age-verification app. Social media and video-sharing platforms will have to verify a user's age when a new account is opened. For existing accounts, platforms need to estimate a user's age based on reasonable indicators, such as the account creation date or credit card details."

https://www.pathtopower.global/features/what-to-know-about-the-eu-plans-to-restrict-social-media-for-under-15s-dr-vasilis-ververis-answers-main-questionsnbsp

#EU #AgeVerification #SocialMedia #Censorship

#AgeVerification in #Canada being debated - #BillC34

https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/age-verification-in-canada-being-debated-as-well-bill-c-34/41158

#privacy #cybersecurity #C34

“Signed into law earlier this year, SB 73 attempted to regulate adult websites by requiring them to block VPN users or to identify the physical location of visitors using them or similar tools that mask their network traffic. It even went so far as to prohibit websites from offering instructions on how to use a VPN to bypass these checks. This made Utah, to EFF’s knowledge, the first state in the nation to target the use of VPNs to avoid legally mandated age-verification gates.

The Utah federal court halted enforcement of the law's VPN provisions last week, ruling that the law likely violates the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on passing laws that significantly burden businesses and people outside Utah’s borders.

SB 73 burdens the rights of all internet users outside of Utah because it requires adult websites to either know every visiting user’s physical location, and then block those in Utah, or to verify every visitor’s age just in case they might be in Utah. The law’s “actual-location provision in practice requires an entity to perform age verification services for every user visiting its site from any location because the entity would violate the law if even one of those users happened to be obfuscating,” the court wrote. The court essentially ruled that Utah has less-burdensome ways to prevent Utah minors from accessing adult websites than requiring all users in the world to comply with SB 73.

Aylo’s lawsuit does not challenge SB 73’s provision prohibiting the websites covered by the law from sharing information about VPNs.”

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/court-agrees-eff-utahs-vpn-law-demands-technical-impossibility

#USA #Utah #VPNs #AgeVerification #Surveillance #Privacy

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/court-agrees-eff-utahs-vpn-law-demands-technical-impossibility

a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Utah’s SB 73, the state’s draconian anti-VPN age verification law. (it required all "adult" websites, to block all VPNs, and track the real physical location of all visitors) In short the current wording of the document is not technically possible, it simply can not be done, can not be implemented the way they describe.

#EFF #Privacy #AgeVerification

Judge Rules Utah Age Verification Law “Likely” Unconstitutional

Utah's on again off again age verification law that bans VPNs is now off again as a judge blocks its enforcement.

https://www.freezenet.ca/judge-rules-utah-age-verification-law-likely-unconstitutional/

#Censorship #LawAndTechnology #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #court #ruling #US #Utah #VPN

"“While estimating age based on user behavior is less invasive than requiring users to upload photos, credit card information or a state-issued ID, age-gating the internet creates dangerous new forms of surveillance, censorship, and exclusion,” Electronic Frontier Foundation senior counsel David Greene told CNET.

Discord includes a facial age-estimation option that requires a video selfie. Although the site says all facial analysis happens locally on the device, this use of AI still gives us pause. Experts point to ongoing accuracy challenges and inherent data risks, raising concerns over how corporate policies and algorithmic parameters might evolve in the future.

We’re also not fans of the credit-card check option, which not only costs money but sends credit card details to a third party, which may increase financial security risks.

Inaccurate age estimates can always happen, and they complicate the process. While Discord notes that users can initially switch to alternative confirmation methods, manual review serves as the fallback if those options fail. However, this manual route is a last resort and requires a human representative to personally verify both a government ID and a photograph."

https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/discord-introduces-alternative-age-verification-tools-after-pushback/

#SocialMedia #AgeVerification #Discord #Privacy #DataProtection

#Discord’s #AgeVerification era is upon us, despite community backlash

https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/22/discords-age-verification-era-is-upon-us-despite-community-backlash/

#privacy #SocialMedia #cybersecurity

#Discord age verification rolls out today with changes spurred by user backlash

Discord today is rolling out an age-verification system that estimates each user's age and requires some users to prove they are old enough to access age-restricted content. Discord said it will take a few days for the global system to reach all user accounts.
#ageverification #security #privacy

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/discord-age-verification-rolls-out-today-with-changes-spurred-by-user-backlash/

"Google is bringing its age assurance technology — which uses artificial intelligence to detect underage users — to Canada.

“Our age estimation model uses machine learning to interpret a variety of signals already associated with a user’s account, such as the types of information a user has searched for or the categories of videos they’ve watched on YouTube,” the company said in a blog post Monday.

The company says that if the technology identifies someone as underage, their Google account will be changed to include additional protections, such as safeguards on content recommendations.

If it mistakenly identifies an adult as being under 18, the company says that person will be able to prove their age using things like a government ID or a selfie.

“In the coming days, we’ll begin to gradually roll out this technology in Canada, carefully monitoring progress as we expand its availability,” Jeanette Patell, director of government affairs and public policy at Google Canada, said in the post.

She said the company won’t be collecting any new information that isn’t already associated with the user’s account."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/google-to-begin-using-age-assurance-tech-to-identify-underage-accounts-in-canada/

#Canada #AI #BullhshitTechnology #Google #AgeVerification #Censorship #BigTech #Surveillance

Europe’s Age Verification Law Panned By Experts

Europe is pushing for an age verification law through the EU Kids Act. It's going to be a failure in waiting.

https://www.freezenet.ca/europes-age-verification-law-panned-by-experts/

#Censorship #News #AgeVerification #AI #EFF #EU #EUKidsAct #Europe #gaming #SocialMedia #Steam

TechCrunch: Discord’s age verification era is upon us, despite community backlash. “Starting Wednesday, Discord, the community messaging platform, will roll out age verification measures to all users. The rollout comes after the company initially delayed its age verification plans in February due to backlash from users concerned that biometric scans and ID checks could jeopardize their […]

when other platforms add age verification, governments throttle the network or block centralized chat services, etc.

#ageverification #enshittification #autonomy #privacy #decentralization #encryption #digitalindependence #ArcaneChat #europe #european #android

I know that a lot of places are listening to Meta lobbyists and implementing age verification based on their recommendations, but the problem with Social Media platforms like Facebook is not the presence of children. It’s the platforms (and the owners) themselves.

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/meta-banning-ads-virginia-woolf-facebook-instagram-feminism

#meta #facebook #instagram #socialmedia #ageverification #feminism

To Enforce Its Proposed #SocialMedia an for 450 Million Pre-Teens, #EU Builds an #OpenSource App

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/09/20/0712211/to-enforce-its-proposed-social-media-ban-for-450-million-pre-teens-eu-builds-an-open-source-app

#privacy #AgeVerification #SocialMedia

The EU Kids Act would ban under-13s from social media and require age verification via a privacy-preserving open-source app across 27 countries.

#EUKidsAct #AgeVerification #SocialMedia #EU #ChildSafety #Privacy #TechNews

https://securityonline.info/eu-kids-act-age-verification/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Nighthawks Game Removal Shows Why Age Verification Laws Are Bad

Vampire game, Nighthawks, got removed from Steam for being adults only. The problem is that it wasn't adults only.

https://www.freezenet.ca/nighthawks-game-removal-shows-why-age-verification-laws-are-bad/

#Business #Censorship #News #AgeVerification #gaming #Nighthawks #Steam

Oh, Vimeo, what you do isn’t all that hard when you remove the centralised aspects of it. We don’t need all the bullshit you peddle to have the non-bullshit parts.

Working so far, in my Small Web prototype using Kitten¹:

• Uploads
• Automatic transcription (via tiny offline LLM)
• Watch online
• Share direct video link

Also fixing a couple of bugs in Kitten as I go so this should make the automatic uploads feature in Kitten more robust (in main, currently, the serving of videos is broken as we’re not properly handling range requests. Will be fixed in the next release.)

The prototype currently has a little over 200 lines of code (HTML + CSS + JS).

¹ https://kitten.small-web.org

#SmallWeb #Kitten #Vimeo #video #ageVerification

Alt...

Screenshot of web browser showing https://localhost/watch/<video hash>, titled Test 2. Video of yours truly. Transcript reads: Alright, this is another test this time with the microphone working. Under it are “Share this page” and “Direct link to the video file” URLs.

PS. If you need to bulk download your videos from Vimeo (there is no data export option – CC @EUCommission *tap, tap* is this thing on?) these folks (who have a commercial Vimeo competitor), wrote a bulk export tool. I haven’t used it yet but I will be soon:

https://livid.com/blog/bulk-export-vimeo/

#Vimeo #ageVerification #export #tool #data #videos #lockIn

🇪🇺 The new digital ID & biometric verification law, called EU KIDS ACT must be stopped!

It is a serious #HumanRights nightmare, especially for #Privacy & would negatively change the internet forever.

We need to stand together & fight this dystopian, authoritarian mass-surveillance movement!

It's all the same push as in Australia, the US et. - wherever you are, resist it ✊

#STOPEUKIDSACT NOW!

https://cdn.netzpolitik.org/wp-upload/2026/09/2026-09-15_COM_EU-Kids-Act_COM-2026-681-3.pdf

@eff @Tutanota @openrightsgroup

#EUKidsAct #Tech #News #EU #Ageverification

Alt...

A square graphic design. The flag of the EU, on top is written in mostly white: #STOP EU KIDS ACT. EU is red and the bottom and top sides are also red.

🇪🇺🚨 Ursula von der Leyen wants to ban social media for under 13s across the European Union

What the EU claims as "child protection" means mass surveillance because of ID checks and face scans 🚩

We must fight against #AgeVerification and for our right of #privacy✊

Alt...

Image shows Ursula von der Leyen and the number 13 crossed out

Explore the proposed EU Kids Act. Learn how the European Union plans to implement strict age verification to ban social media and AI chatbots for under-15s.

#EUKidsAct #AgeVerification #ChildSafety #SocialMediaBan #CyberSecurity

https://securityexpress.info/eu-kids-act-social-media-ban/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

🚨 California 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.

Age verification and ID checks cannot be the solutions. They rather destroy everyone's #privacy

The fight against #AgeVerification must continue ✊

Learn more about which countries are planning to ban social media for kids and teenagers: 👉 https://tuta.com/blog/age-verification-kills-anonymity

Alt...

Image shows all the flag icons of the countries that have implemented age verification including California, France, Greece, Australia, Brasil, Turkey, etc.

Alt...

Image shows the number 16 crossed out

🚨It's high time to strip Meta, TikTok, etc. off their privileges! 🚨

On September 16, Ursula von der Leyen must not demand #AgeVerification from social media, but force them to change the algorithm for good for everyone!

Otherwise, Big Tech bosses will decide votes, not the people.

Our opinion: 👉 https://tuta.com/blog/eu-chance-to-force-big-tech

Alt...

Image shows an EU icon vs. Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok icons

Does anyone have any insights / scoops about the upcoming #EUKidsAct, set to be introduced this Thursday to "age gate" access to social media platforms across the EU? (Thus forcing every citizen to upload their government ID to establish their age)

I'm super worried about the impact on the #OpenSocialWeb and the Fediverse in particular.

🔗 : https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-propose-new-legislation-on-minors-protection-on-thursday/

I wish they would share a clear description of the platforms affected by this legislation.

#privacy #AgeVerification #EUBigTech

#Revolut's breach could become more common as more sites have to perform ID verification due to #AgeVerification

"Marc Zeller, one of the customers who published his notice, argued that identity verification requirements leave banks holding large files of identity documents and transaction records that become a liability the moment a request is answered in error."

https://www.internationalcyberdigest.com/revolut-gave-away-customers-data/

#California governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of #SocialMedia, #AI chatbots

https://apnews.com/article/california-social-media-safety-kids-online-harms-6063026d1b54a8537d639605c23aab80

#privacy #AgeVerification

Microsoft is Baking Age Verification Directly into Windows

Avoiding mass government surveillance and censorship is getting harder now that Microsoft is putting it into Windows.

https://www.freezenet.ca/microsoft-is-baking-age-verification-directly-into-windows/

#News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #Microsoft #OperatingSystem #PersonalInformation #Windows

ID verification giant #IDScan confirms #DataBreach with more than 150 million driver’s licenses stolen

https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/10/id-verification-giant-idscan-confirms-data-breach-with-more-than-150-million-drivers-licenses-stolen/

#AgeVerification #privacy #cybersecurity #DriversLicense

Under #BillC34, the so-called "Safe Social Media Act," online platforms could require much + invasive age verification or estimation to prove you're 16+ in 🇨🇦 🦝

We don’t have to accept #ageverification on every online platform we use!

👉 Message your MP to fix Bill C 34:

https://openmedia.org/BillC34-mtd

IDscan, used for age verification, hacked and leaked.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/10/id-verification-giant-idscan-confirms-data-breach-with-more-than-150-million-drivers-licenses-stolen/

#ageverification #cybersecurity #infosec #privacy

#Microsoft adds age-awareness APIs that can tell if users are children, teens, or adults

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-adds-age-awareness-apis-that-can-tell-if-users-are-children-teens-or-adults/

#privacy #AgeVerification

Nudity blocking works by scanning ALL your content.

The privacy implications are huge.

And the same goes for the alternative: having to submit your sensitive data in the form of ID uploads or biometric scans to verify you're over 18.

Meanwhile, the age verification industry remains unregulated.

#privacy #surveillance #onlinesafety #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

Cover your bits, the UK government wants to put scanning tech on your phone.

The aim? To prevent kids receiving and sending nudes. But it'll be there as default for everyone, unless you go through age verification to disable it.

It's a disproportionate move that'll compromise privacy and security.

Read our blog ⬇️

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/nudity-scanning-tech-will-leave-us-more-exposed/

#privacy #surveillance #onlinesafety #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

The Windows 11 Age API lets apps check a user's age bracket without exposing their birthday, meeting new age verification laws like California's.

#Windows11 #Microsoft #AgeVerification #Privacy #AgeAPI #DigitalSafety #TechNews

https://securityonline.info/windows-11-age-api/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Linux is exempt from age verification requirement of California users as long as it is distributed under the GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/Linux-Exempt-from-California-s-Age-Verification-Law?utm_source=mlm
#Linux #OS #AgeVerification #GPL #BSD #MIT #Apache

Alt...

Linux Magazine News

Saskatchewan Government Misleads Public in Social Media Survey

If you ever wondered where the so-called "broad support" for age verification comes from, well, we might have gotten the answer.

https://www.freezenet.ca/saskatchewan-government-misleads-public-in-social-media-survey/

#Censorship #News #AgeVerification #Canada #government #Saskatchewan #SocialMedia #survey

@adisonverlice

Yuppers.

#AgeVerification = equals = #IdentityVerification = equals = #Censorship

#AgeVerification = equals = #IdentityVerification

The Real Reason Behind Online Age Verification Laws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHZTeEN2HT0

What does online age verification laws actually have to do with the ENABLING of collecting data from children, China's surveillance and censorship laws, and the profits of companies like Facebook, Apple, and Google? A lot more than you think.

In this episode of Plain Meaning, I break down the real agenda behind the push for operating system age verification. From California's Digital Age Assurance Act to federal proposals in Congress, they have come from the same source. I trace who benefits, what laws get quietly gutted in the process, and why the timing lines up suspiciously with China's own digital surveillance rollout.

What you'll learn:
— Why Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta all win if these laws pass
— How age verification effectively nullifies existing laws that protect you and your children like COPPA and the Privacy Act of 1974
— What already happened in the UK under the Online Safety Act — and why it matters for America
— The striking parallels between Apple's product rollouts and China's surveillance
— Why this isn't about protecting kids at all but more about removing the remaining barriers SO THEY CAN TRACK THEM

This is Part 1 of the Plain Meaning 12-part Plain Meaning Special Report. Links to all episodes will appear as they're released.

The Real Reason Behind Online Age Verification Laws
The rest are coming soon...

California's law takes effect January 2027. There is still time — but not much.

#AgeVerification #DigitalPrivacy #OnlineSafety #COPPA #BigTech #ChildOnlineSafety #Surveillance #Apple #Google #Meta #Facebook #DigitalID #PlainMeaning #PrivacyRights #ChinaTech #InternetFreedom #DataPrivacy #OperatingSystem #TechPolicy #ParentsRights #China #PrivacyAct

#AgeVerification #DigitalPrivacy #OnlineSafety

#AgeVerification #NationalID #Surveillance #Censorship #PlainMeaning

"we have a company that is a big player in the age verification space, talking up age and identity verification laws, that appears to have had a long-standing ongoing leak of every ID it scanned.

At this point, anyone still supporting age verification requirements, especially claiming it’s for “child safety,” should have to answer for all the millions of people put needlessly at risk due to data breaches like this."

#DataBreach #KOSA #Privacy #AgeVerification

https://www.techdirt.com/2026/09/03/hackers-had-a-live-feed-of-every-id-this-verification-company-scanned-for-over-a-year/

Utah’s VPN Ban Law Goes Into Effect… Again

A court order blocking the ridiculous Utah VPN ban/age verification law has expired, allowing it to go back into force.

https://www.freezenet.ca/utahs-vpn-ban-law-goes-into-effect-again/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #court #lawsuit #legislation #US #Utah #VPN

Age Verification Company IDScan Hacked: 153 Million Drivers Licenses Compromised

IDScan had apparently been compromised for a year as hackers stole people's licenses live as they were added to the database.

https://www.freezenet.ca/age-verification-company-idscan-hacked-153-million-drivers-licenses-compromised/

#News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #DriversLicense #hack #IDScan #IDScannet #leak

#Meta's $17 Billion Settlement is a Bad Deal for Teens and All #SocialMedia Users

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/09/metas-17-billion-settlement-bad-deal-teens-and-all-social-media-users

#privacy #AgeVerification #Instagram #Facebook

“Meta’s settlement with 52 state attorneys general is a bad deal for all internet users, and especially for teens. That’s what we said the day the settlement was announced.

In this post, we go through the Settlement’s provisions in detail and explain why that is so, including how:

- The Settlement embeds age assurance technology and age-gates into Meta’s social media products and requires all users—minors and adults—to undergo a rights-threatening age estimation process

- The Settlement places severe restrictions on Teens that can largely only be modified by the Teens’ parents and only then in exchange for giving their parents a ton of information about their online community and usage;

- The Settlement seems to empower the attorneys general to enforce Meta’s content restriction on “age inappropriate content,” categories that Meta itself has had trouble administering without excluding information about sexuality, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and abortion medication;

- The Settlement actually requires Meta to collect, analyze, and retain more information about its Teen users—when the pressure should have been on Meta to diminish its surveillance capitalism.

- And the Settlement in no way limits the attorneys general from seeking the user information for their own law enforcement purposes.”

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/09/metas-17-billion-settlement-bad-deal-teens-and-all-social-media-users

#SocialMedia #Meta #AgeVerification #Censorship #USA #Surveillance

#EFF to Governor #Newsom: Veto #California’s #AB1709

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/eff-gov-newsom-veto-californias-ab-1709

#AgeVerification #privacy

"California lawmakers unanimously pass Linux exemption from age-verification law — software distributed under the GPL, MIT, BSD, and Apache licenses are exempt"

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-lawmakers-unanimously-pass-linux-exemption-from-age-verification-law-software-distributed-under-the-gpl-mit-bsd-and-apache-licenses-are-exempt

#Linux #BSD #AgeVerification

#California’s #AgeVerification Bill Passes with #Linux Exemption Intact

https://linuxiac.com/californias-age-verification-bill-passes-with-linux-exemption-intact/

#privacy #FOSS

California has just exempted Open Source from age verification. While a step in the right direction, self-certification is still a pointless data-collection exercise.
#opensource #ageverification
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/california-lawmakers-unanimously-pass-linux-exemption-from-age-verification-law-software-distributed-under-the-gpl-mit-bsd-and-apache-licenses-are-exempt

This is NOT a victory, this probably makes OSS a second class citizen once websites and services require age verification integration points.

Not to mention this is just a delay tactic, they hope the nerds go back to sleep and don't talk about our rights being eroded.

https://mastodon.cisti.org/@roughconsensusandrunningcode/117183754787248539

#AgeVerification #CA #OSS #Linux

New Zealand Pushing for Failed Age Verification Law

New Zealand lawmakers have announced that they are stupid enough to table age verification legislation.

https://www.freezenet.ca/new-zealand-pushing-for-failed-age-verification-law/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #fail #legislation #NewZealand

I see the #ageVerification backlash is getting heated.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/texas-man-arrested-ranting-age-161532035.html

I'm not saying we should start stabbing each other, but this guy is right to be angry—age verification is a menace to society, not to mention a flagrant violation of American values—and a flood of irate voicemails from outraged constituents would do wonders in getting age verification laws repealed and settlements renegotiated.

I need everyone to understand that there are exactly zero ways to verify someone's age online that don't involve putting millions of innocent people in danger of physical violence and/or forcing them to become hermits.

Doing this in a safe and responsible way is *fundamentally impossible*. No, your favorite method is not an exception. The whole idea is bad, full stop. Launch it into the sun.

#AgeVerification

French Top Court Gets It Right, Strikes Down #SocialMediaBan For Youths

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/french-top-court-gets-it-right-strikes-down-social-media-ban-youths

#France #privacy #AgeVerification

#NewZealand PM introduces under-16 #SocialMedia and #AI companion ban

https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/08/new-zealand-pm-introduces-under-16-social-media-and-ai-companion-ban/#

#privacy #AgeVerification #SocialMediaBan

#EFF explains exactly why #ZeroKnowledgeProof as #AgeVerification is not safe, and is even more dangerous than typical age-verification schemes in that, not only does it still invade the privacy of your home, it also vests power in a single company or government agency to ban you from all of society—to un-person you—whenever it pleases.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/zkps-arent-age-verification-silver-bullets

It's just another censorship/surveillance scheme, no better than any other and in some ways worse.

Complain to your representatives!

"Age verification (laws and regulations requiring platforms and websites to assure or estimate that a user seeking to use an online service is of a certain age) is everywhere. At the time of writing, about half the states in the US have some internet age verification law in place, and dangerous proposals, from the KIDS Act to the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), have been advancing at the federal level. European Union member states are moving toward having age verification in a centralized app by the end of this year. Australia famously now has one extremely broad restriction in place.

Most age verification laws tend to fail at their primary goal of barring kids from being online or from entering only specially designated zones, not to mention they pose a significant threat to everyone’s privacy. Some proponents of these age-based internet restrictions think they've found the silver bullet: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs). We wrote about ZKP’s when they were first rolled out in the age verification context last year. However, more recent examples show our concerns weren’t just conjecture; ZKP-focused AV schemes are gameable, hackable, and not the cure-all some may claim."

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/08/zkps-arent-age-verification-silver-bullets

#AgeVerification #USA #Privacy #Surveillance #ZKP #EU #SocialMedia #PoliceState #Censorship