I think this is a genuinely difficult problem that happens to look exactly like what you’d need for extended surveillance. When I think about it seriously, I end up coming up with the idea of a whitelist enforced on device for local accounts used by children.
This would probably block most of the internet, and allow access only to sites that are validated as being safe. This would put a lot of pressure on sites and service providers to ensure safety, such as children-only walled gardens within their broader services.
We already have piecemeal attempts at something like this through on device private age restriction software, but it’s not organised at the state level, and I think it’s not effective enough as a result.
If legally enforced it could be made into a pretty effective system that would give adults freedom and anonymity and provide safety for children, while pushing the costs of child safety onto the platforms, which is where it belongs. If you want to cater to children, prove that you can make it on to the whitelist. Otherwise that’s an audience you’re just not able to access.
There are already whitelisting solutions that can be installed on devices controlled by parents.
That don’t really work because this isn’t a nation state level enforced system, and realistically the only state that can force such a thing is the US. If they worked, we wouldn’t be here having this discussion.
... that don't need the identity of the parents to work.
Nor do these devices require the identity of non-parents who will never enable the childproofing mode
Nor does legislation invert the burden of proof and require the device's manufacturer obtain and store identity documents just to use the devices, otherwise it must restrict all access to a small handful of "kid safe" actions.
These aren't "child safety" laws, they're "adult anonymity eradication" laws
> the idea of a whitelist enforced on device for local accounts used by children
What’s wrong with making it the social media companies’ problem? If they sign up a child, they get fined. Everyone is then incentivized to come up with solutions. If some of those are shit, restrict them. If they’re not, great.
> If they sign up a child, they get fined. Everyone is then incentivized to come up with solutions.
This already is the threat, and all the solutions social media comes up with are eerily “Age Verification” shaped. They are all going to be shitty.
> They are all going to be shitty
But constrained to those using the platforms. My issue with these broader measures is even if I don't use social media, I'm still caught up in the dragnet.
Because your "solution" creates massive privacy violations unless age verification and age assurance are banned, and result in even larger fines.
Did you actually read the post that you’re replying to?
Yes. It goes off into the same on-device wilderness the lawmakers have wandered into. It also fails Mozilla’s objection list to the status quo proposal.