#age-verification-laws

#age-verification-laws

HF1434, Minnesota's proposed age-verification bill, simply won't protect children. It mandates that websites hosting speech that is protected by the First Amendment for both adults and young people verify users' identities, often through government IDs or biometric data. The bill's definition of speech that lawmakers deem harmful to minors is notoriously broad—broad enough to sweep in lawful, non-pornographic speech about sexual orientation, sexual health, and gender identity.

For years, "know your customer" checks have become commonplace on the internet, often by way of sharing a copy of your government-issued ID and a selfie to confirm that it's really you, to access a website or app, or to purchase certain goods. Nowadays, age verification laws taking effect across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond are also giving rise to an entire industry of ID-checking companies charged with granting you access to the "adult" web.