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Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

reclaimthenet.org

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Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#71

Post by manytree »

tomjen3 wrote: post #67
manytree wrote: post #61

Sounds like exact quandary that the emerging DID spec (Decentralized Identifiers) [ https://www.w3.org/TR/did-core/ ] is hoping to solve. I.e. you can submit your proof of age to an attestation service (in this case, perhaps the australian government itself) and receive an anonymous DID from which you can issue proofs of age without revealing other aspects of your identity.

Would that also work the other way around? Ie would it mean the Australian government wouldn’t know anything other than you wanting to prove your age to somebody? Otherwise it seems a terrible idea.

Yeah, the DID you receive from the attestation service can be used multiple times, and is assumed to be immutable, so you sign messages with your private key to prove ownership of the DID but generally reveal no other information. One concern would be that a backend integration might exist between the Australian government’s attestation service and Google’s system, in which case there might be benefit to the existence of an alternative public institution that is committed to privacy which has the demonstrated authority to verify age.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#73

Post by iso1210 »

WinterMount223 wrote: post #54
jdrc wrote: post #52

Age verification sounds like an application of zero-knowledge proofs

Could you explain further?

Imagine you are visiting hacker news, and for some reason you have to prove your age, but you don't want HN to know who you are, nor your age identity site to know you're going to HN

One way to do this off the top mf my head would be

HN issues a unique number (say 4096 bit) to you when you create an account

You send that number to your identity provider along with confirming proof of age

The identity provider signs that the number is valid and posts it to a public source

HN downloads a list of 4096 bit numbers posted in the last 5 minutes and confirms the one associated with your account is on the list

HN will know that "Identities-r-us.com" has proven your age, but nothing else

IRU know you had to age approve a site, but there are many sites downloading the lists so they don't know which one

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#74

Post by Semaphor »

I find it somewhat hilarious that a site "reclaim the net – Push back against online censorship, cancel culture, and privacy invasion. Informed by principles on digital rights" wants me to give them my email for their newsletter on my very first visit. Before showing me the article, or anything.

Yes, I would like to reclaim the net. From sites such as that one.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#75

Post by cute_boi »

cmckn wrote: post #28
LewisVerstappen wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"If our systems are unable to establish that a viewer is above the age of 18, we will request that they provide a valid ID or credit card to verify their age.” I don't think Google is complaining too much. Especially if it gives them an excuse to collect credit card data (reducing a significant amount of friction when they sell YouTube premium / google drive subscriptions).

Does google actually save this payment information for use in subsequent transactions? Or is it just used as part of the age verification process?

Should we even guess? Google is already trying hard to store payment information filled in form.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#76

Post by flerchin »

simion314 wrote: post #58
overboard2 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, we don't need browsers cooperating with this.

Why? it would not be forced on you but think about this super easy scenario. 1 I buy a device for my child and I set it up and enter his birthday, say he is under 13 2 I buy me a device , setup my account and enter my credit card to use the Store , the OS now is 100% sure I am an adult 3 The browser on our devices knows our ages now 4 13+ , 18+ webpages will mark this in the header , the browser on the child phone kn…

Sure it could come in via user agent. I would worry that governments would then attempt to regulate and lock down browsers such that Free Software is no longer viable, or even legal.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#77

Post by seanmcdirmid »

cute_boi wrote: post #75
cmckn wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does google actually save this payment information for use in subsequent transactions? Or is it just used as part of the age verification process?

Should we even guess? Google is already trying hard to store payment information filled in form.

Chrome will save credit card data on request, it’s incredibly convenient if you do a lot of online food ordering.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#78

Post by dijonman2 »

Siira wrote: post #20
asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #2

Although the title is correct, it's worth noting that Google is not doing this because it thinks it's fun to require verification. The Australian government is requiring google to take this action.

Perhaps there is some Chinese influence in this governmental decision, as well. They benefit from normalizing oppression.

China and Australia are very close.

China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner in goods and services, accounting for nearly one third (31 per cent) of our trade with the world.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/china/china-country-brief

The CCP is evil.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#79

Post by dimitrios1 »

I used to believe, at least in the early days, that these tech companies were successful in upholding the values of freedom of expression, speech, and exchange of information, subsequently the values that the early internet itself formed around. They were anti-authoritarian.

Now it seems they willingly accept being pushed around, succumb to any request to compromise its values in the interest of shareholder value, and willingly collude with authoritarian requests from governments.

It's all so typical, in a way. Whatever shred of idealism I had left for these companies is now completely gone.

Re: Google will soon ask Australian users to show ID to view some content

#80

Post by ludamad »

dimitrios1 wrote: post #79

I used to believe, at least in the early days, that these tech companies were successful in upholding the values of freedom of expression, speech, and exchange of information, subsequently the values that the early internet itself formed around. They were anti-authoritarian. Now it seems they willingly accept being pushed around, succumb to any request to compromise its values in the interest of shareholder value, an…

The problem is that the more a company wants to draw a line in the sand against a government, the more it must be a monopoly of some kind otherwise be replaced by someone who doesn't
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