Post by @benroyce@mastodon.social
Does anyone have any insights / scoops about the upcoming #EUKidsAct, set to be introduced this Thursday to "age gate" access to social media platforms across the EU? (Thus forcing every citizen to upload their government ID to establish their age)
I'm super worried about the impact on the #OpenSocialWeb and the Fediverse in particular.
🔗 : https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-propose-new-legislation-on-minors-protection-on-thursday/
I wish they would share a clear description of the platforms affected by this legislation.
@_elena urgh... Is there any way to do #ageverification privately and securely? It doesn't look like it.
Didn't the EU's solution get hacked on day one?
Valve (Steam) achieved age verification in the UK by requiring a credit card. Because to have a credit card you have to be a certain age
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/292B-3DA3-CFC8-97F6
this doesn't completely answer your question, but it collapses the need for another privacy disclosure. the credit card company knew before, it still knows, but no one else does
but of course, now your credit card is exposed for another potential data breach
obviously best case scenario: no need for age verification
but if it comes to pass, i think this is the best "how?"
because it results in the easiest, least intrusive form of disclosure
as a bonus, fediverse instances are always in need of funds, and with a cc on file, some friction is removed for donations
big problem:
the data breach potential. a nasty possibility with small hobbyist servers
perhaps there could be third party cc verification service for instances
@benroyce @patrickleavy I had never thought of things this way, so thank you Ben for assuaging some of my fears.
@studybunny reports that in Australia the strict age verification laws didn't apply to the Fediverse, but only Big Tech. Let's hope things stay this way here, too