Taylor Lorenz’s Power User Is This The End of The Open Web?
14 snips
Dec 26, 2025 
Eric Goldman, Associate Dean for Research at Santa Clara University School of Law, dives into the complexities of online age verification. He reveals how these measures, while marketed for child safety, pose significant risks to privacy and the open web. Goldman outlines the dangers of data misuse, increased surveillance, and the friction this creates in our online experience. He argues that these regulations could ultimately limit access to diverse information while exposing both children and adults to greater risks. A thought-provoking discussion!
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Age Authentication Changes The Web
- Age authentication aims to segregate children from adults online to apply special legal protections.
- That segregation requires identifying user age which fundamentally changes how sites operate.
Verification Requires Sensitive Data
- Age checks usually require government IDs or face scans, exposing highly sensitive data.
- Collecting biometrics or ID info massively increases privacy risks and potential misuse.
Authentication Creates Security Honeypots
- Centralized age databases become honeypots that attract attackers and increase interception risks.
- Even transient transmission of authentication data creates new vulnerabilities.
