Britain Is Two Weeks From a New Age-Checked Internet
Millions of adults could soon be forced to prove who they are, or lose access to large chunks of the internet in two weeks.
Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly preparing to announce a ban on social media for under-16s, as Britain’s already strict online rules move towards an even tougher regime of digital control.
According to the Financial Times, the prime minister decided to pursue the ban after a consultation found around 90 percent of parents backed one. The policy is expected to be announced before the Makerfield by-election on the 18th of June, with allies reportedly seeing it as part of Starmer’s attempt to secure a political legacy.
Campaigners warn that, in practice, age verification for under-16s means age verification for everyone. If a phone, app or website has to prove a user is not 15, every adult may also be pushed into proving they are old enough to log on.
“Starmer is desperate to do something that ‘looks tough’ in response to Burnham situation,” said Alan Miller of the freedom campaigners Together.
“Under 16 Social media ban & ‘age gating’ will mean everyone has to digitally verify to prove who they are.Unacceptable,” he said.
Starmer today told tech companies they have three weeks to introduce device-level controls to stop children sending and receiving sexually explicit images. If they do not act, he said, the government will change the law.
A noble aim, but at what cost?
Public Policy Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs Matthew Lesh said on X that the government’s plan will turn every smartphone into a “government scanning device” and “is a creepy infringement on user privacy that will inevitably be exploited by bad actors with nefarious intent – be it criminal hackers or authoritarian governments.”
The internet as you know it is going to change soon.