Following in the wake of the Discord age verification controversy, over 350 security experts (comprising researchers and academics) from 30 countries have signed an open letter [PDF] warning of the risks of introducing age verification protocols without careful consideration.
“We share the concerns about the negative effects that exposure to harmful content online has on children, and we applaud that regulators dedicate time and effort to protect them. However, we fear that, if implemented without careful consideration of the technological hazards and societal impact, the new regulation might cause more harm than good,” the open letter states.
A broad rollout of age verification would also lead to increased use of VPN services, and if those were to be banned, it would be a severe blow to privacy-conscious users living in authoritarian countries. According to Politico, France will introduce an age limit of 15 for social media as early as September, with Germany, Denmark, and Spain next in line.
Further reading: The best VPNs, rated and ranked