A concerning trend is rapidly gaining momentum: the implementation of age verification mandates. These measures,intended to enhance online safety,are inadvertently creating a new landscape of surveillance,censorship,and exclusion that extends far beyond young people. As of January 13, 2026, the push for these laws is accelerating, prompting a critical examination of their potential consequences.
Currently, many proposed and enacted age-gating laws necessitate that websites and applications collect personal data from all users. This ofen involves employing intrusive methods like identification checks, biometric scanning, or other questionable “estimation” techniques before granting access to specific content or services. While proponents present these laws as a definitive solution to protecting children online, the reality is far more complex.
The Expanding Scope of Online Age Verification
These mandates don’t simply target content deemed inappropriate for minors
