"Among the culprits cited in the report: age verification laws, dozens of which have come into effect over the last year. "Online anonymity, an essential enabler for freedom of expression, is entering a period of crisis as policymakers in free and autocratic countries alike mandate the use of identity verification technology for certain websites or platforms, motivated in some cases by the legitimate aim of protecting children," the report warns."
"Age verification laws are, in some ways, part of a years-long reckoning over child safety online, as tech companies have shown themselves unable to prevent serious harms to their most vulnerable users. Lawmakers, who have failed to pass data privacy regulations, Section 230 reform or any other meaningful legislation that would thoughtfully reimagine what responsibilities tech companies owe their users, have instead turned to the blunt tool of age-based restrictions - and with much greater success."
Global internet freedom has declined for 15 consecutive years, with a sharp drop in the United States tied partly to new age verification laws. Dozens of age checks have come into effect recently, with 25 states requiring verification for adult content and the Supreme Court upholding a Texas law mandating age checks for such sites. Age verification requirements are spreading to social media and platforms, with 16 states imposing parental controls or age-based limits and federal proposals to ban under-13s gaining bipartisan support. Lawmakers turned to age-based restrictions after failing to pass data-privacy or Section 230 reforms, citing child-safety concerns.
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