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Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

arstechnica.com

11–20 of 120 posts

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#11
post #9
post #3

The slow drip of government interference means people forget what a free and open interent was like. Slowly, its becoming segmented by chickenshit regulation, censorship, and corporate control. We don't care because its only Texas and its adult content, but this is what the slow chipping away of freedom looks like: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

An alternate point of view is that one day we will look back with deep shame at this hopefully brief period where we made porn and gambling available to children instantly in limitless quantities. Not saying it’s easy to figure out how to accomplish change in a free and fair way. But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

> But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

Care to elaborate? This feels like all of the ads that were warning about the "dangers of gay marriage" without ever being able to name an actual danger. Just fear mongering.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#12

Would be better to just require all porn sites to be payment-only. Deals with addiction as well as child access. Right now, this sort of regulation seems like the purpose is a de-anonymised internet in a format that Republicans can accept.

Because addicts won’t use their money to feed an addiction?

Or because people don’t get addicted to things that cost money?

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#13

Would be better to just require all porn sites to be payment-only. Deals with addiction as well as child access. Right now, this sort of regulation seems like the purpose is a de-anonymised internet in a format that Republicans can accept.

How does payment help with addiction? Most porn sites would likely go with a flat rate for unlimited access. Addict levels of viewing would be no more expensive than casual viewing

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#14

Im in Utah which has this law. Now pornhub is effectively inaccessible because Im not giving them my ID but I think it largely backfired because everyone uses offshore sites now. Tbh Im kind of grateful because the offshore sites have much better content since its all pirated, but I never wouldve even thought of them until I was kicked off ph.

Now we begin discussing a national firewall.

With talk of regulating TikTok, I've wondered what the US would do if TikTok sent a notification saying, essentially, "just connect to our servers in China". The kids would do it, and then what?

There are a few Internet regulations I've seen discussed that would require a national firewall to achieve their stated goals.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#15
post #9
post #3

The slow drip of government interference means people forget what a free and open interent was like. Slowly, its becoming segmented by chickenshit regulation, censorship, and corporate control. We don't care because its only Texas and its adult content, but this is what the slow chipping away of freedom looks like: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

An alternate point of view is that one day we will look back with deep shame at this hopefully brief period where we made porn and gambling available to children instantly in limitless quantities. Not saying it’s easy to figure out how to accomplish change in a free and fair way. But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

"we"

Being the parents of children. Let's be clear here.

If your children are visiting adult sites in 2024, it's 100% on you.

"gambling" I'm sorry, but gambling? How is a 12 year old supposed to gamble in limitless ways without parental consent? Please, let me know. I'm actually curious.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#16

Would be better to just require all porn sites to be payment-only. Deals with addiction as well as child access. Right now, this sort of regulation seems like the purpose is a de-anonymised internet in a format that Republicans can accept.

Better for lawmakers perhaps. Certainly not porn sites or a few advertisers.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#17
What counts as a porn site? Reddit, Twitter, etc. all have porn on them. Definitely backwards for free speech and the open internet.

Also backwards for privacy and security. If anything, sites should be prevented from collecting identifying info unless absolutely necessary.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#19
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An alternate point of view is that one day we will look back with deep shame at this hopefully brief period where we made porn and gambling available to children instantly in limitless quantities. Not saying it’s easy to figure out how to accomplish change in a free and fair way. But the status quo is pretty clearly a horrifying outcome.

"we" Being the parents of children. Let's be clear here. If your children are visiting adult sites in 2024, it's 100% on you. "gambling" I'm sorry, but gambling? How is a 12 year old supposed to gamble in limitless ways without parental consent? Please, let me know. I'm actually curious.

Tell me you don't have kids without using the words "I don't have kids"

Kids gamble away a bunch of money from their parents all the time. Look at games like FIFA that are rated E for Everybody and all of the news articles about kids running up thousands of dollars in FIFA Ultimate Team Packs. Expecting parents to know that they need to be on the look out for their kids being able to spend unlimited money (well, up to their credit card limit) on a game rated E for Everyone is ridiculous.

Re: Porn Sites Need Age-Verification Systems in Texas, Court Rules

#20
There are effective ways (cryptography) to implement age verification and other forms of ID and ID-adjacent verification online that isn't a privacy nightmare.

I am currently working on one such solution:

https://youtu.be/92gu4mxHmTY

https://certisfy.com/

It works, it scales and solves the problem comprehensively.

Happy to answer any questions.

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