this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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Age checks could turn internet into an ID checkpoint and would kill anonymity, Proton CEO says (proton.me)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Deep@mander.xyz to c/technology@lemmy.world
222 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

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[–] gajahmada@awful.systems 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, we ( you guys ) should fork the internet.

There's Meshtastic and the like ( I think ) but then again what we'll build there? Another fediverse ? I don't see the difference with what I have now.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Isn’t there already an au instance that is somewhat complying with age verification by asking security questions?

[–] michaelalf@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

One of the Aussie communities AFAIK. Also here, outside of the fediverse, all mainstream porn sites require age verification. lol no thanks I'll just VPN somewhere sane, wow problem solved.

[–] gajahmada@awful.systems 1 points 3 days ago

If true, I'm not aware. Feels bad man.