I'm reluctant to verify my identity or age for any online services (neilzone.co.uk)

Article summary

The author expresses reluctance to verify their identity or age for online services, citing concerns about privacy and data security. They consider various online services they use and conclude that they would not be willing to verify their identity or age for any of them. The author notes that some services, such as Signal, might be difficult to replace if they were to implement age verification. The author's stance is one of self-imposed digital isolationism, prioritizing privacy over access to certain online services.

Main themes

• Online identity verification
• Age verification
• Data security
• Privacy concerns
• Digital isolationism
• Free speech

What commenters say

• Some people feel that age verification is a form of information mining, rather than a genuine policy to protect users.
• There are concerns that age verification systems can be circumvented, making them ineffective.
• The EU's proposed age verification system is seen as a potential threat to privacy, as it may require users to trust the government with their personal data.
• Others argue that the EU has more freedom of speech than the US, but with different consequences for violating speech laws.
• Some commenters believe that age verification is pointless, as it can be easily bypassed by someone willing to help a minor.
• There are different opinions on the effectiveness of anonymous age verification systems, with some seeing them as a viable solution and others as impractical.
• The discussion highlights the trade-off between privacy and access to online services, with some users prioritizing one over the other.
• Some argue that the US has a more robust constitution than the EU, but others counter that the US has its own set of problems with free speech and government overreach.