France is moving to classify X as a pornographic website, a designation that would place it under the country’s mandatory age verification and digital ID laws.
This step, if finalized, would force the company to either implement robust age-gating mechanisms or restrict access to adult content altogether to avoid being cut off from younger users.
It would also mean that users have to show ID to access the platform, introducing major implications for privacy and free speech.
Those against website age verification argue that content blocking should happen at the OS level. For example, a parent could enable the built-in “child mode” on their child’s smartphone or computer. As I understand it, that would be more effective, graceful, cheaper, free speechy, and private. To a degree, tech savvy parents (and people who block ads and other content) already do similar things with third party tools - i.e. it’s feasible.
Sure if that was all they had in mind. This is also about collecting info and controlling what people can do, the content is just an excuse as a means of doing so.
Well, yes, there is that.