Americans, Be Warned: Lessons from Reddit's Chaotic UK Age Verification Rollout

15 days ago

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The UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) mandates age verification for accessing 'harmful' content, sparking widespread criticism for privacy erosion and over-censorship.
Platforms like Reddit, Spotify, and YouTube are struggling to comply, with many smaller sites shutting down due to the law's vague and expensive requirements.
Reddit's implementation of age verification has locked out UK users from various forums, including LGBTQ+, public health, and even non-explicit communities, causing outrage.
The OSA's broad definition of 'harmful' content forces users to choose between submitting sensitive personal data or avoiding platforms entirely.
Age verification technology is flawed, with reports of bugs, VPN usage spikes, and loopholes like using face filters to bypass checks.
The OSA may push users, including minors, toward unmoderated and riskier parts of the internet, increasing harm rather than reducing it.
The US faces similar threats with proposed laws like KOSA, which could expand age verification beyond porn to censor LGBTQ+ content, sexual education, and more.
EFF urges opposition to age verification laws, advocating for digital rights, privacy, and free expression globally.

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