Ofcom conveniently listing all of the porn websites which do not adhere to age verification requirements
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114227
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #StreisandEffect #censorship #ofcom #surveillance #vpn

#Britain Forces #Porn Sites to Get Serious on ‘Age-Gating’

The new measures have been widely embraced, but new age-verification methods have drawn some criticism because of #privacy concerns.
#ageverification

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/technology/uk-porn-age-verification.html

#AgeVerification Is Sweeping #Gaming. Is It Ready for the Age of #AI Fakes?

#Discord users are already using video game characters to bypass the UK’s age-check laws. AI #deepfakes could make things even more complicated.
#aifake #privacy #uk

https://www.wired.com/story/age-verification-is-sweeping-gaming-is-it-ready-for-the-age-of-ai-fakes/

Marc Andreessen complains to Downing Street about Online Safety Act and UK tech minister
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114225
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Ofcom conveniently listing all of the porn websites which do not adhere to age verification requirements

If this is your sort of thing:

On 30 July 2025, under this expanded enforcement programme, we have opened an investigation into AVS Group Ltd in relation to the adult sites [URLs…]

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-avs-group-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance

#ageVerification #censorship #ofcom #onlineSafety #onlineSafetyAct #StreisandEffect #surveillance #VPN

Marc Andreessen complains to Downing Street about Online Safety Act and UK tech minister

Meanwhile, privacy campaigners argue the legislation has opened a space for unscrupulous companies purporting to provide age assurance services to gather and misuse reams of personal data.

“Creating databases to store data used to determine people’s age will act as a honeypot for hackers and malicious actors because they’re compiling valuable information that can be sold afterwards,” said David Frautschy, a senior director at the Internet Society, an advocacy group. “This is not the way to make the internet more secure. This is not what the law was intended for.”

https://www.ft.com/content/09c88dde-687e-47c7-ba9d-7ad5048e2bc7

#ageVerification #censorship #onlineSafety #onlineSafetyAct #surveillance #VPN

@EUCommission also EC:
Let's destroy the confidentiality of correspondence by introducing #chatcontrol.
Let's destroy anonymity by introducing mandatory #ageverification.

In other words, let's destroy the things that are essential for journalism to function properly.

I'm not dead. You know what this means? Time to write more about security, tech and how fucked we are. If you need you dose of depression of the day, give a read:

https://jeferson.me/blog/2025/08/08/device-age-verification

#AgeVerification #Privacy #UserPrivacy #DataSecurity #Security #Dev #WebDev #Software #AI #OS

Australia Expands Social Media Youth Ban to YouTube

Age verification continues to spiral further out of control as Australia has included YouTube in their outright youth ban.

https://www.freezenet.ca/australia-expands-social-media-youth-ban-to-youtube/

#Censorship #News #AgeVerification #Australia #SocialMedia #YouTube

There are many reasons to criticise the #OnlineSafetyAct but the bizarre #Ofcom approach to #AgeVerification demanding vast proliferation of personal information rather than obligatory acceptance of a validated credential, defies belief and exceeds all other failures.
https://mastodon.social/@alecmuffett/114987625354929569

“I’m confused that the government advises never to give out your personal information, then introduces a law that means we have to send photos of our passports & driving licenses to anyone who asks”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114206
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #autism #censorship #surveillance #vpn

you know, if you really care about the kids, there’s this great alternative to enforcing age verification bills on everyone

it’s called parental controls

your router and phone already comes with them; easy to setup too

best of all, it requires no government interference

don’t let shitty privacy invasive bills pass because you’re a lazy parent

#ageverification #privacy

“I’m confused that the government advises never to give out your personal information, then introduces a law that means we have to send photos of our passports & driving licenses to anyone who asks”

r/autismUK subreddit:

My gut is screaming that there is something bigger at play and there’s a hidden agender, and I don’t like feeling like this. I worry for people, like my daughter, who doesn”t have a passport or driving licenses or ‘border control biometric data’ that some of these services, like YOTI, say they are are using to cross reference with.

https://www.reddit.com/r/autismUK/comments/1mjw1nh/age_verification_is_messing_with_my_head/

#ageVerification #autism #censorship #onlineSafety #onlineSafetyAct #surveillance #VPN

Repeal the Online Safety Act | Petitions | 500,775 signatures at Wednesday 2315h
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114202
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Example of DumbArsed UK legislation making no sense. The Online Safety act or whatever they’re calling it this week.
Microsoft have said they need age verification, owing to the above act, to allow me to continue to chat online with my friends next year.
On an account I opened in 2005. Which would make me over 18 even if I’d created it as an infant.
That I buy games on with my CARD from my ADULT Bank Account. 😂😂
Apparently, I can still buy any 18+ certified game I like, but chatting is a no-no, because I might not be safe.
Our government really are TOTAL MORONS…
#UK_politics #UnitedKingdom #OnlineSafetyAct #ageverification #stupidity

David Aaronovich on media coverage of the Online Safety Act: “when are you going to have someone on to tell you what the downsides are?”
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114173
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Ok, so why can't Microsoft look at my account and just go "oh, this account was created over 20 years ago, they must be over 18"? Or just use any of the existing things on the account (credit card, mobile, etc, Azure agreements, MS certification) to prove that I am? #UKOnlineSafetyAct #ukosa #AgeVerification #OldAccounts

“Age verification: what’s the harm?” | Girl on the Net explains
https://alecmuffett.com/article/114168
#AgeVerification #OnlineSafety #OnlineSafetyAct #censorship #surveillance #vpn

Many countries are trying to put in age verification and are running head first into poorly thought out implementations combined with a complete lack of contemplation of that age old question: "Sure, we can, but should we?"

This write up by @girlonthenet is a nice breakdown of some of the biggest issues involved. Anyone on the net, even if you're only a user (and in some cases, especially if you're only a user) needs to understand this:

https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/age-verification-whats-the-harm/

#UKPol #AusPol #AgeVerification