Age verification for social media, the beginning of the end for a free internet?

# Summary Multiple countries are implementing age verification systems for social media, ostensibly to protect children but effectively requiring universal identity verification that enables government control and surveillance of internet users. While tech companies already know users' ages and could simply block minors, politicians are instead imposing identity verification schemes that undermine privacy and anonymous access to information globally. The trend is spreading rapidly across Europe, North America, and other regions, with Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil already enforcing age restrictions for users under 16.