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

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401–410 of 457 posts

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

#401

Don't use it. Don't even consider it. Do whatever it takes to let everyone know you're not gonna use this and tell your friends the same. These corrupt bafoons talk of sovereignty and then they pull stunts like this. Even if you're totally pro EU, vote with your actions if you can't outvote the Commission.

I will try my best, but at some point I feel this won't help. 98% of people have no problem with this. In fact they probably even see this as a positive, finally they don't have to identify via these shitty video services from various call centers anymore, and even the children are perfectly safe now.

I am quite pessimistic. They couldn't care less about some 2% of people who just stop using their services.

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

#402

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hear you on the overall privacy issues related to age verification with US Corps. My concern with government registries of personal information is related to things like: - Netherlands, WWII: The Dutch civil registry meticulously recorded religion. It’s a major reason ~75% of Dutch Jews were killed, the highest rate in occupied Western Europe (vs ~25% in France, where records were poorer). - US, Japanese internment…

> - Netherlands, WWII: The Dutch civil registry meticulously recorded religion. It’s a major reason ~75% of Dutch Jews were killed, the highest rate in occupied Western Europe (vs ~25% in France, where records were poorer). Records were poorer in France because René Carmille and the French resistance sabotaged the machines. Machines made by a large tech company which was a competitor to IBM. > Who knows what kinds of…

Tech bros will be lining up to gifting it along with a golden statue to whichever dictator they wish to carry favour with.

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

#403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t follow. The Dutch tax office has substantially more complete records right now. Even if they don’t track race or religion as explicitly as they did in the 40s, your hypothetical invading Nazis can run some local AI over people’s last names and get close enough. How is, of all things, an age verification app going to make that worse? I mean I understand your argument in principle but it seems you’re arguing ag…

I'm not even saying your conclusion is wrong. But choosing Netherlands about how information control is safe in the hands of the government is a bit of an own goal. Like if I was the boss of a train company I would probably not put up a photo of Mussolini as a motivational poster. Well… maybe I would, but only ironically. > How is, of all things, an age verification app going to make that worse? What are you arguing…

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

#404

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because this is all a political move. This so-called "EU sovereignty" drive is in fact aimed at further reducing sovereignty of the member states via further transfer of power and control to the EU. These digital ID wallets do exactly that. Member states lose control of the ID infrastructure, which will now be controlled by the EU. There isn't much sovereignty left at national level...

This is totally not the EU version of China's social credit score system and WeChat SSO system. It will totally not be used to sanction you the moment you become a nuisance to the EU elites by saying "wrong speech" that goes against their mandated doctrine or pointing out their acts of corruption or dismantling of democracy. The EU building in Brussels even has the word "DEMOCRACY" plastered on the front in large bol…

They're already unpersoning left-leaning journalists, look up Hüseyin Doğru.

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

#405
post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That adds to the concern as a European. Thanks to the CLOUD Act, sharing data with an American tech company effectively is sharing data with the American government. And that I would definitely like to avoid.

The American government isn't going to send armed goons to my doorstep anytime soon.

These days, I wouldn't be so sure. Hell, they even did it to a sovereign head of state.

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

#406

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In fact, it requires attestation: even if you install Google Play on some Android in an emulator/container/VM, on an alternative Android distro or in a rooted device, the app will not accept it.

Wth. Does it at least have the decency to use aosp attestation? Or are they just happy to give the keys to the kingdom to Google and require Play Protect?

How would you "use AOSP attestation"?

The point is that the signatures are compared against a database of certified builds - and that exists on Google servers.

If you want AOSP attestation, you need to build your own database to compare against.

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

#407
post #12

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?

> Are there any other Operating Systems than iOS, Android or Android flavors Yes, there are many more: GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, *BSD, etc. This will prevent people who only own a computer and not a modern iOS/Android smartphone from accessing services and platforms. This also sets a very strong anti-competition pressure. Which company will try now to invest on developing a new OS for smartphones if we already know…

Oh, sorry, I was only thinking phone. I use myself an unsusual OS, Bodhi Linux, but for phones the selection is much more limited.

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

#408

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?

as far as I'm aware, Adroid is not the same as the requirement here, which requires specific Google attestation. There is GrapheneOS, HarmonyOS by Huawei, LineageOS for older phones and many more Android ROMs. Additionally, Linux phones exist and are already sold in the EU to consumers, not just a prototype. There's really no justification around limiting the OS selection. There is also Linux, Windows, MacOS and many…

All this are Android flavors.

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

#409
post #13

Don't fall for the trap. The question isn't how we should technically force age verification on anybody. The question is why they're pushing it onto everyone. I did not consent to this, neither did you.

Some people consent to it, and they have a voice too. If they win and you didn't also consider the technical solution, you will find yourself not only with a law you disagree with, but also with a terrible technical solution.

So whatever you opinion is on the subject of forcing age verification, it is worth looking at the technical solution, especially if it is your domain of expertise.

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

#410
post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the youths who just... don't like smartphones. We exist

Some years ago I had deliberate weeks in my life where I just went back to my old 2G brick phone from like 2001. I was amazed how it was still working perfectly. I mean, yes, 2G will be shutdown even in Germany soon, so the old phone isn't an option either way anymore. But there are 4G brick phones which I'd like to use then. But this won't be possible. My bus ticket is digital and can't be screenshotted or printed,…

I've done the same. I have a 4G flip phone from some brand (I think it's AGM?) and it's fine. I've recently thought about going back to a 2G phone while I still can, as my phone carrier still has 2G where I live (they've talked about shutting it down many times, and have begun doing so)
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