An EFF article argues that proposed age-verification laws like Minnesota's HF1434, which mandate ID checks for accessing broad categories of online content, are less about protecting children and more about enabling censorship and control over online speech. The piece supports a lawmaker's testimony that such measures force websites to collect sensitive personal data and restrict constitutionally protected content for all users, not just minors.
Background
Age-gating laws require websites to verify users' ages, often through government IDs or biometrics, to access certain content deemed 'harmful to minors.' Critics argue these measures threaten privacy and free speech.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Mar 17, 2026 at 06:53 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10