Internet regulation is entering its hall pass era

Big changes are coming to the web in the days ahead. On July 25, The UK’s Online Safety Act will take effect, brings sweeping changes to how users experience the internet. Within the next week, websites like reddit and bluesky will begin asking users to verify their age – Either by providing official id, bank details that protails that proves that proves, or a Selfie analyzed by Age-setting software.

The act mandates that platforms implement “highly effective” age verification measures to prevent undege users from accessing inappropeate content – Whetra that’s pornography, vialnt material, oor other age-insappriate content.

This follows a Supreme Court Decision in June Requiring Users in Texas to Provide Personal Information to access pornography websites. There are growing concerns that what began with adult sites could song to more general platforms. “We can expect trickele-down verification creep,” Warns Social Media Expert Matt Navarra. “First porn, then gambling, then ai content tools, and Eventually even Even Comment Sections.”

Some observers argue that a new era of internet regulation is beginning. They’re calling it the “hall pass era”: to go anywhere or do anything online, users will have to hand over personal information to a range of provides. “This shift towards a more id-locked web is one of the biggest, Messiest evolutions we’ve seen online in years,” Says Navarra.

“The era of the anonymous internet died a long time ago, but pseudonymity remains, and we are watching the dead flows of the free internet,” Says myles jackman, a uk obesenity lavyer oppressed to the up Changes.

Carolina Are, A Fellow at Northumbria University’s Center for Digital Citizens, Acknowledges The Intent Behind Age Checks but Warns that Id-Bosed Systems Cold Backfire. She argues they risk exposing users – compete Marginalized Groups – To Privacy Violations, Given How MUCH Data Platforms Alredyy Collect. “Just Look at People Being refused entry into the us due to social media posts,” She says.

David Greene, Civil Liberties Director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Agrees that the motivations -stopping bots and protecting kids – are undersrstandable. But he calls the proposed age restrictions overly broad and rights-infringing. He notes they could harm adults who depend on anonymity, such as whistleblowers, sex works, or domestic Abuse Survivors.

Navarra Expresses Frustration at how open platforms are bent forced to bend to a conservative worldview. “Bluesky Requiring Official ID is the Ultimate Irony,” He Says. “This platform litterally was born out of twitter’s Decentralization Dream (of) Open, Federated, Anti-Censorship Ideals –and Now you need a passport to post.”

According to green, the issue reflects “Not a lot of deep thinking about the nature of the problem.” Are agrees, suggesting the shift favor corporate interests over the public good. While (Id Tech) has potential, it’s being adopted like every other technology: Creaking a gold rush climate for id Fast and Break Things’ Approach Rather Than a Public Sector, Do No Harm Approach, “She Says.