Spying on kids to save kids from spying is stupid

The article argues that proposed "age verification" systems for the internet are counterproductive, as they would actually constitute mass surveillance far more invasive than existing commercial tracking—defeating the stated goal of protecting children from online harms, which themselves originate from surveillance-based targeting. The author contends that such mandates would inevitably lead to VPN bans and benefit the tech industry they claim to oppose, while doing nothing to address the root cause of online harms to children.