Global Age Verification Laws Threaten Privacy, Free Speech, And Open Internet

The Global Rise of Age Verification and the Quiet Transformation of the Internet

Across the internet, a fundamental shift is underway—one that many users barely notice until they are suddenly blocked, scanned, or asked to upload sensitive personal data simply to access information. Age verification mandates, once limited to niche sectors like alcohol sales or gambling, are rapidly becoming a default requirement for wide swaths of online content. Framed as child protection measures, these laws are quietly rewriting the rules of digital access, privacy, and free expression worldwide. The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s launch of its Age Verification Resource Hub marks a critical moment in this ongoing transformation. It is not merely an educational … Read more