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European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

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Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#121

Post by knorker »

snottynose wrote: post #44
knorker wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny you use Netherlands as a good example, considering that famously, their existing unusually thorough registry was super helpful for the Nazis rounding up jews later. I don't think it's Godwin's Law when you are so spot on, exactly describing the worst case.

Not necessary to hearken back so far in history. In our present age the intelligence services consistently do not respect privacy rights of citizens, even when they are legally bound to. https://www-bitsoffreedom-nl.translate.goog/2026/07/06/aivd-...

Sure, but the poster was not just wrong, but wrong like "peace in our time" wrong. "Adolf? What a charming name" wrong.

Amusingly fantastically wrong.

NL may have its own issues like you linked to, but more uniquely had their collected data abused more than other countries in probably the worst event in history.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#122

Post by mrsssnake »

Beijinger wrote: post #3

I am not a fan of such an "app". But the app is, as far as I understand, for things like Facebook, TikTok etc. Are there any other Operating Systems than iOS, Android or Android flavors? WebOS was nice but who is still using this? Symbian? Can you even use Social Media Apps with another phone OS?

Even in a world where Android and iOS have 100% of market share, the law (including indirect but obvious consequences of the law) should not force using them.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#123

Post by dheera »

kubo6472 wrote: post #23

Yeah, I am leaning towards never to use anything that is forced to implement any kind of age verification.

You won't be able to see a doctor when you're sick.

You won't be able to open a bank account to receive your salary.

You won't be able to buy train or plane tickets.

My point is I am most worried that these kind of "digital verification" type things most impact actual necessities. The social media I couldn't care less about. "I just won't use it" isn't really a solution.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#124

Post by alistairSH »

zeta0134 wrote: post #99
joe_mamba wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There are other options, such as refusing games that require them. How about the option of the state not being so tyrannical in meddling about what people anonymously do online in their free time?

This is generally my opinion, and goodness it's swung around quite a bit. This entire debate feels like it should be solved by adequate parental controls. To the extent that it matters, I think the missing link here is "primary education should support a parent's intent to limit unrestricted internet access for their children." That is, during school activities where internet use is unavoidable, require supervision.…

You think most of the unsupervised internet time is happening at school? I mean, maybe it is, but that's an assertion I haven't seen before.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#125

Post by alistairSH »

roundabout-host wrote: post #80
skrebbel wrote: post #30

I agree wholeheartedly with the argument raised in this github issue, but I think people are wrong to be skeptical about the concept of a government-issued age verification app. Thing is, the status quo is absolutely worse. My 13yo son likes making Roblox games. Suddenly, some months ago, Roblox made a change where you’re not allowed to share your games with friends unless you do “age verification”, apparently in som…

The "app" could be a good solution, if it didn't require attested Android or iOS. It could, for example, have me plug my ID chip into my GNU/Linux system and expose it with a standard protocol. That would be no problem. The problem is that they do not want such a way. In any case, I think that age gating would not be needed if the platforms were regulated to remove addictive recommendation algorithms.

ID chip? Is that something everybody in the EU (or whatever region) has? Is it just embedded in your driver license or passport?

[I'm in the US, we're very ID-averse here, weird, but is what it is]

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#126

Post by zh3 »

skrebbel wrote: post #30

I agree wholeheartedly with the argument raised in this github issue, but I think people are wrong to be skeptical about the concept of a government-issued age verification app. Thing is, the status quo is absolutely worse. My 13yo son likes making Roblox games. Suddenly, some months ago, Roblox made a change where you’re not allowed to share your games with friends unless you do “age verification”, apparently in som…

As a purely tactical measure, we use the same older person (me) for age verification for all family members - zero failures so far and it poisons the well.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#127

Post by alistairSH »

lstodd wrote: post #52
tikkabhuna wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would an age verification app need to know your ethnicity/religion? Governments likely already know your name, age, place of birth, so having an app with a standard API for verifying users isn't giving the government additional data.

"government" age verification app will be made and maintan ed by some corp anyways. so it will gather extra data, sell it sideways and leak like hell. (as they already do with all the data they already have)

I'm imagining something like recreation.gov in the US - it's the portal for booking campsites and other activities at national parks. It's run by BAH at great profit - most of the fees we pay aren't going to the national park service, it almost all goes to our corporate overlords.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#128

Post by mrsssnake »

iLoveOncall wrote: post #5

I agree with the sentiment but is there even any phone that doesn't run Android (or derivatives) or iOS and that can install modern "apps"?

Even on the Android or iOS phone the EU app won't run if the device owner made even a tiniest change of the operating system without Google or Apple approval.

The EU developed system excludes the 1% of people for which the popular mobile solutions do not work and also make the rest 99% totally dependent on the selected corporations.

Re: European "age verification" "app" forcing everyone to use Android or iOS

#130

Post by wonderwonder »

em500 wrote: post #45
skrebbel wrote: post #30

I agree wholeheartedly with the argument raised in this github issue, but I think people are wrong to be skeptical about the concept of a government-issued age verification app. Thing is, the status quo is absolutely worse. My 13yo son likes making Roblox games. Suddenly, some months ago, Roblox made a change where you’re not allowed to share your games with friends unless you do “age verification”, apparently in som…

Government issued versus corporate issued age verification is a false dichotomy. There are other options, such as refusing games that require them. (Yes, we do have a teen, and yes we did exactly that with Roblox.)

Thats obviously fine to do but it is very much going to have consequences for some kids. My kids spend hours a week playing roblox with their IRL friends. 10 - 15 kids on a group call on speaker phone all logged into the same code laughing and yelling for a couple hours a night. If I was to suddenly tell them that they can't play those games with their friends it would have very real effects on their social life. My kids spend a ton of time outside with friends but to ignore that they also spend time gaming with them is not an option.
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