How the "Online Safety Act" might destroy the web

The Online Safety Act threatens the free and open internet by mandating age verification for all users, leading to privacy violations, data leaks, and increased identity theft, particularly harming vulnerable groups. 0:00

Key Takeaways:
• The Act forces platforms to implement age checks, risking massive data exposure and identity theft 1:00.
• Third-party identity providers and face scans create opaque, insecure systems that violate user privacy 2:30.
• The legislation fails to address real harm to children and instead enables exploitation, such as banning McDonald’s ads and forcing users to verify with bank details 4:01.
• The UK’s approach mirrors failed past laws like SOAPA, which destroyed internet freedom through overreach 3:10.
• The EFF criticizes the Act for not protecting children but instead harming free expression and privacy 6:50.

The internet must remain a free space for all voices, not a censored, surveillance-heavy environment. We need education and parental responsibility, not government-mandated age checks.

Sources:

• 0:00 Introduction to the Online Safety Act and its threat to free internet.
• 1:00 Real harm to children online and the failure of the Act to address it.
• 2:30 Risks of third-party age verification and data exposure.
• 3:10 Historical failure of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOAPA).
• 4:01 Inappropriate content bans and financ