In 2018, the UK government proposed an age verification system called the “porn pass” to implement mandatory age checks on adult websites. This would involve purchasing a physical card, allowing individuals to verify their age without providing personal information online. This concept was intended to balance regulatory oversight with privacy concerns, but it was met with skepticism and was eventually scrapped in 2019.
Since then, age verification measures have resurfaced, leading to developments in various regions. The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) now requires age-gating for social media platforms, alongside adult sites. The European Union and Australia are also experimenting with similar age verification strategies, while discussions are ongoing in countries like Canada. Notably, the US Supreme Court recently approved age verification for adult content, granting states authority to impose such requirements on social media platforms, despite prior concerns from critics regarding privacy and free speech.
The period from 2019 to 2025 has seen a shift in public perception regarding online content and safety. The increasing integration of the internet into daily life has led many to question the value of online resources, which may have influenced the acceptance of age verification laws. Critics had previously warned that these laws could hinder access to educational resources for minors while raising privacy risks for adults.
Initial implementations of age verification have highlighted potential issues, such as security risks from data breaches and content restrictions that limit access to useful information for young users. Additionally, discrepancies in how states are enforcing these laws are evident. Platforms like Bluesky have begun blocking users in certain regions due to compliance burdens.
While the landscape for age verification continues to evolve, some see it as a potential infringement on rights. Key concerns persist about protecting children’s online safety without compromising individual privacy or limiting access to valuable content. As countries refine their approaches, legislative alternatives focusing on targeted measures rather than broad age verification are gaining traction.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/column/798159/age-gating-internet