Sensemaker Could age verification make the internet more dangerous?
Aug 7, 2025
The podcast dives into the Online Safety Act, highlighting strict age verification measures and the privacy risks they pose. It uncovers the hidden dangers of age verification technology, including data breach vulnerabilities and biases in facial recognition. The discussion also addresses the effects on young users, with an increasing use of VPNs to navigate these challenges. Listeners are left questioning whether these safety measures truly protect users or inadvertently increase risks.
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ID Verification Raises Data Risks
- The UK's Online Safety Act mandates detailed ID verification for adult content access, increasing data vulnerability.
- Lack of transparency about data use raises concerns over data breaches and personal information security.
Bias in Facial Recognition
- Facial recognition used for age checks contains biases against darker skin tones.
- Disabled, transgender, or facially disfigured individuals may face disproportionate negative impacts.
No Appeal for Age Verification Errors
- There is no effective appeal process if age verification technology wrongly denies access.
- To regain access, users must disclose even more personal data, complicating digital life restoration.