Researchers warn against flawed age verification systems

More than 400 researchers have signed an open letter cautioning that emerging age verification systems, as governments push laws to make them widespread, risk doing more harm than good. While the stated aim is to keep children away from harmful content, the letter highlights haphazard implementation, weak privacy protections, and inadequate data handling.

The signatories warn that regulated mainstream platforms would likely drive users toward lesser-known sites that escape oversight, exposing them to scams or malware. They note that enforcing age checks often requires a global trust infrastructure—an approach the EU’s digital identity wallet exemplifies—but such systems can be bypassed with valid certificates or VPNs when not universally applied.

The letter cites the UK’s Online Safety Act as an early example, where some sites faced investigation and others blocked UK users. Privacy and security concerns figure prominently.

United Kingdom

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