Global Push for Age Verification Raises Security Concerns

Nearly 400 Scientists Publish Warning Over Risks David Meyer • March 4, 2026

A push by governments across the globe for tech companies verify users' age is gathering steam, following Australia's implementation in December of a ban on under-16s using social media. Countries across the European Union are set to impose similar rules.

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In the United Kingdom, the Online Safety Act has led platforms such as Reddit and Bluesky to starting checking users' ages, and the British government on Monday opened a "landmark" consultation on the strengthening of age-verification methods and a potential minimum age for social-media use.

Backlash is already accumulating, most recently from 389 scientists and researchers from 30 countries who signed on Monday a call for a moratorium in a letter characterizing age checks as a security and privacy risk.

"We believe that it ...