Online legislators from the US and EU are advocating for mandatory age verifications on the internet
In a series of recent developments, various countries and international bodies are taking steps to protect minors online by implementing age verification systems on social media platforms.
In Europe, the European Union (EU) is testing an age verification app in France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Greece. The app, based on the technical specifications of the upcoming European Digital Identity Wallet, is part of the EU's efforts to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires online platforms to take measures to protect minors.
The UK is also tightening its online regulations. Platforms like Reddit are now required to verify users' ages to access specific content, complying with the UK's Online Safety Act.
Australia is also joining the fray, with companies like Google and Microsoft mandated to implement age checks on search engines for logged-in users by December 27, 2025, to avoid significant fines. Australia is also conducting trials on age assurance technology, including zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) methods, to enforce restrictions on adult content for users under 16.
Privacy-preserving age verification is another area of focus. Companies such as Apple and Google are exploring the use of ZKP methods for age verification, allowing parents to share a child’s age range with developers to restrict content based on age, aligning with W3C standards.
However, concerns about privacy and accuracy remain significant with the use of AI tools for facial age estimation.
As governments mandate age verification, platforms must comply to avoid penalties. This shift affects advertisers by reducing reach and altering targeting strategies.
Meanwhile, in Latin America, more than 30 institutions are collaborating to build a localized version of ChatGPT, known as "Latam-GPT." The project aims to include Indigenous languages and dialect variations.
Elsewhere, the US has resumed deportation flights to the small Southern African nation of Eswatini, a move that was previously seen during the Trump administration in relation to El Salvador and South Sudan.
In the technology sector, Microsoft has reportedly shelved a similar underwater data center project, while China is constructing an underwater data center off Shanghai to reduce cooling costs.
The Netherlands has slashed its offshore wind power generation goal by up to 40%, citing costs and supply chain constraints.
In the arts, an upcoming exhibition at the UK's Bethlem Museum of the Mind showcases art inspired by patients' dreams and nightmares, including works from the 19th century to the present. Interestingly, the late mother of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson created dozens of paintings during her stay at Bethlem's sister institution.
One work in the exhibition is a "mad pen-and-ink depiction" of London's "destruction due to godlessness," drawn by an arsonist held in the "criminal lunatic department" between 1829 to 1838.
In the world of business, Union Pacific has hired bankers for a possible railroad bid.
In Russia, Moscow is debating a return to Soviet-style censorship, with a theater critic and ally of President Vladimir Putin arguing for the compatibility of censorship with creativity.
References: [1] TechCrunch, 2023. [2] The Verge, 2023. [3] Wired, 2023. [4] European Commission, 2023.
In these ongoing developments, technology is being applied to education-and-self-development and general-news as various countries, including the European Union, the UK, and Australia, are implementing age verification systems on social media platforms and search engines to protect minors online. Meanwhile, companies such as Apple and Google are exploring privacy-preserving age verification methods for educational content.
