18+ Sites and ID Checks

[Matty]

Suprised this hasn't been mentioned yet

But while it seems like a dirty topic as it's assumed it's just about basement dwellers not being able to get access to porn, it's a broader topic, given it's scooping up other areas, like blocking certain Discord, Reddit channels and even WikiPedia - not to mention the potential data breaches as you don't know who you're giving your data too (see: the breach the "Tea" website had recently) and how it could potentially push kids to the darker corners of the interent.

Unsuprisingly, smashing the Government petition site at nearly 300k as well:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722903

As a tech person, it seems like an incredibly poorly thought out idea that causes far more issues than it solves. But then, I don't have kids, so interested in the parents thoughts?

[Gavster]

VPN servcices have been advertising HARD across social media the last few days

I like the idea to be honest, it's definitely enough to stop casual browsing, for example there's no way I'd give my ID to one of these sites. As for the argument that it could push people to darker corners of the net, given that pretty much any proclivity you could ever want was already easily available, is that really an issue?

[scotta]

There’s no fucking way I’d be doing age verification to dodgy porn sites.

[John]

Hedge porn is about to make a return.

[Mito Man]

Reddit requiring age verification for swear words whilst X is plastered with tits and cocks

[Zonda_]

It’s ridiculous, want to look at grot? let’s verify you, turn on VPN, yep, good to go!

[Jobbo]

I nearly posted about it when I verified my age on Bluesky the other day. But I wasn’t sure I could add anything so didn’t.

Does a VPN completely get round it?

[Beany]

I nearly posted about it when I verified my age on Bluesky the other day. But I wasn’t sure I could add anything so didn’t.

Does a VPN completely get round it?

It can, as they use IP based geographic recognition, and using a VPN changes your IP.

So for example, being a nerdy fucker, I could spin up a VM in Brazil, hook up to it, and as far as Bluesky is concerned, I'm logging in from Brazil, not the UK.

I've yet to come across anything that's asked for it in my usual browsing, but that's my general plan if I do as I've got the skillz to set that up for about £6/month and it can do other things for me too.

For normies, just get a decent VPN and set your location to anywhere but the UK/US (some US states have similar rules)

[Simon]

Ahem @Matty

[Matty]

Recommendation - ProtonVPN is absolutely free and very well respected with your data; they don't log anything. Only a few free servers though, and in the last week they've been under a bit of pressure

Ahem @Matty

I thought the agreement we weren't in scope and/or too small to be on the radar?

[DeskJockey]

Like @Jobbo I did the ID check for Bluesky. But as bypassing the verification requirement for websites seems trivial, I'm not sure it'll bring any meaningful change.

[Ascender]

I don't know, it just seems like another one of those poorly thought out and implemented government schemes which is going to leave your average person confused and probably more susceptible to scams.

A VPN isn't going to stop anyone, let alone kids, so I'm not really sure what this achieves.

As others have said, its not going to help with inappropriate content on social media or the whole toxic social media issue we have in society.

[Matty]

I've noticed even AliExpress reviews are blocked too - not available in your region VPN to the rescue again.

I've spent many years working in IT safeguarding, and genuinely been suprised what kids (younger than 10) search for. I've been even more suprised at their ingenuity to bypass blocks. It's pivoted away from blocking to education - it's just whack-a-mole otherwise. Far better to log what they access, then discuss it.

[Matty]

Also, the Scots *really* want their porn back...

https://petitionmap.unboxedconsulting.c ... ion=722903

[Beany]

I did have a look at this last night seeing as more people are talking about it 'in anger' and it looks like

We would be under scope

but

It's not too onerous - boilerplate statement that we're not an attractive site to kids and have no evidence of kids accessing it (so no need to do age verification of any kind or a full childrens access risk assessment etc) and a boilerplate risk assessment for the other stuff referencing the controls of PhpBB as the main ways to mitigate them, which you can template out from ChatGPT/Gemini/etc and just store away in case you're asked for it.

So not too horrific, if you do want to go belt and braces, etc.

[Ascender]

I did have a look at this last night seeing as more people are talking about it 'in anger' and it looks like

We would be under scope

but

It's not too onerous - boilerplate statement that we're not an attractive site to kids and have no evidence of kids accessing it (so no need to do age verification of any kind or a full childrens access risk assessment etc) and a boilerplate risk assessment for the other stuff referencing the controls of PhpBB as the main ways to mitigate them, which you can template out from ChatGPT/Gemini/etc and just store away in case you're asked for it.

So not too horrific, if you do want to go belt and braces, etc.

"not attractive to kids" sounds like a trap of some sort is being laid.

[Beany]

Only if you're hosting the site out of a ratty white van with "Free candy" scrawled on the side.

[Jobbo]

How old were you when you first posted on Evo, Beany?

[Beany]

How old were you when you first posted on Evo, Beany?

I'd probably have been at least 18, probably 19 I think - I was working full time and could drink, certainly.

[Shlergen]

Surfshark was like 40quid for 3 years..