Spying on kids to save kids from spying is stupid
5 hours ago
- #privacy
- #age verification
- #surveillance
- Age verification proposals are effectively mass surveillance that makes commercial tracking look minor by comparison, and they are supported by a coalition of anti-Big Tech campaigners and right-wing groups.
- Tech companies secretly favor age verification as it normalizes VPN use and sets the stage for VPN bans, while governments rush to pass such laws instead of enforcing privacy protections.
- Online harms to children start with surveillance, as algorithms and targeted content rely on data collection, yet efforts to 'protect' kids are increasing surveillance rather than limiting it.
- Privacy laws globally are inadequate or undermined, with the US having outdated laws, the EU's GDPR weakened by Ireland's enforcement issues, and Trump threatening retaliation on regulating tech.
- Age verification data could be repurposed for other surveillance like ICE raids, and online surveillance raises consumer prices, lowers wages, and affects everyone beyond just children.