1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I'm asking you to oppose any legislation that mandates age verification systems requiring government ID, biometric data, or facial scans to access online content. These laws eliminate anonymous speech and create surveillance infrastructure that threatens constitutional protections. What started as adult content restrictions in Louisiana has already expanded to social media, messaging apps, and search engines across half the US. The UK's Online Safety Act began enforcement in July 2025 with fines up to 10% of global revenue. Australia banned anyone under 16 from social media entirely. This isn't a slippery slope argument—the expansion is already happening. Age verification systems hand sensitive data to third-party companies with poor security. In 2025 alone, Discord's breach exposed 70,000 users' real names, selfies, ID documents, and home addresses. Another firm left login credentials exposed for over a year. Biometric data can't be changed like a password once stolen. Anonymous speech has always protected whistleblowers, abuse survivors, journalists, and people researching sensitive health topics. When identity is tied to every online action, people self-censor. Teenagers have First Amendment rights to seek information and participate in public life. Device-level parental controls already exist and keep decisions with families instead of platforms and governments. Vote against age verification mandates that build permanent surveillance infrastructure.