Online threats to children are real, but the headlong pursuit of age verification that we’re seeing around the world is unacceptable in its approach and far too broad in scope — and we simply can’t afford to get this wrong.
To be clear, parents’ concerns are valid and sincere. Few people would argue that kids should have unfettered access to adult material, to self-harm how-tos, to social media platforms that manipulate them and expose them to abuse.
But it’s the very depth of those worries that is being cynically exploited. Age verification as is currently being proposed in country after country would mean the death of anonymity online.
And we know exactly who stands to gain: The same tech giants who built the privacy nightmare that the internet is today.
Ja! Tócate los cojones, Mariloli!
Free press: when you can’t even record the police, it’s illegal (kind of, in theory. Absolutely forbidden in practice). Freedom of speech: unless it’s against the Crown, or the Church, or national unity, or… Independent courts: independent from fairness, and the truth? Sure. Independent from the establishment’s power? Not at all. So, yes, you’re too privileged to care for any of this, but worry not, amigo, those privileges are being transferred upwards so (unless you’re part of the top elite) you’ll care soon enough. We don’t have anything to envy the USA or China (on these matters). I’ve been there, not as a tourist, so it’s not hearsay.
WTF are you talking about? I see recording of police in media all the time. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OLwILBtbs0M - OMG! The public TV recorded the police and it’s absolutely forbidden in practice. I’m sure they are all in jail now.
The rest of your arguments are equally silly. I’m not even going to waste my time on them.