The 'papers, please' era of the internet will decimate your privacy

# Summary Australia's social media ban for under-16s, which went into effect in December 2024, is forcing platforms to collect biometric data, government IDs, or other personal information to verify user age—yet the law is ineffective, with research showing roughly 70% of banned children still access social media. This "papers, please" approach poses significant privacy risks, as users often must submit sensitive data to third-party verification companies based in foreign countries with unclear data protection standards and potential vulnerability to government surveillance or data breaches.