Some kids are bypassing age-verification checks with a fake mustache
TechCrunch • • world
Key Points:
- A survey by U.K.-based nonprofit Internet Matters found that about half of children reported age-verification checks on adult websites are easy to bypass, with some using tactics like drawing fake facial hair to appear older.
- Children demonstrated awareness of various methods to circumvent age checks, either through personal experience or information shared by peers.
- Age-verification laws, requiring adults to upload identification to access adult content, are expanding globally but face criticism for privacy risks and potential data breaches.
- Half of U.S. states and the UK have implemented such laws, prompting companies like Apple, Reddit, and Meta to introduce compliance measures involving ID uploads and algorithmic age estimation.
- Some platforms, including Discord, have postponed implementing age-verification due to user backlash and concerns over security and privacy.
