Privacy and Access Rights at Stake – Oppose Age Verification

I'm writing to urge you to oppose any legislation requiring age verification for internet access. These mandates pose serious threats to privacy, free expression, and actual child safety. While these laws are marketed as ways to protect minors online, they don't actually deliver on that promise. There's no evidence that age verification keeps children safer—in fact, research suggests the opposite happens. When regulated platforms become harder to access through ID requirements, minors simply migrate to unregulated, less safe corners of the internet where there are no protections whatsoever. We're essentially pushing young people away from environments that could ensure their safety into ones we can't control or protect at all. Beyond failing to achieve their stated goal, age verification creates real harms for regular users. Requiring identity documents to access basic information online excludes people who don't have IDs, those concerned about data collection, and marginalized communities who face disproportionate risks from surveillance infrastructure. Half of U.S. states have already enacted these laws, and countries like the UK, Australia, and India are following suit with similar measures that create digital barriers rather than solutions. This isn't just about privacy—it's about equal access to information and the right to participate in public discourse. When governments and companies demand proof of age before allowing internet access, they're effectively saying some people don't deserve full participation in digital society. Protecting children online requires thoughtful approaches grounded in evidence, not privacy-invasive shortcuts that endanger the very kids they claim to help. Please vote against age verification mandates and support policies that actually prioritize minor safety without compromising fundamental rights for everyone else. Thank you for your consideration.