Are Age Verification Laws Regressing the Internet?

Controversy Surrounds Age Verification Laws Impacting Internet Freedom

Age verification laws, criticized for potentially dialing back the clock on the internet's open nature, have ignited a vigorous debate concerning their impact on online privacy, freedom, and access to content. Critics, prominently including 404 Media, argue that these laws are rooted in a flawed approach by attempting to barricade access to pornography and, by extension, believe it would curb its consumption by minors. This perspective is widely considered naïve and counterproductive, with detrimental effects foreseen not only for individual privacy but also for the digital rights landscape at large.