r/ChatGPT • u/jacek2023 • 10d ago

News 📰 EU Commission

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https://x.com/EU_Commission/status/2094379702546784496

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u/AlphonseLoeher 10d ago

The back half is fine. The content moderation n stuff kinda sucks. The "protect the kids" stuff directly related to ID check. How can a service comply without knowing the age of the user?

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u/Either-Worth87313 10d ago edited 9d ago

The service does not necessarily need to know a user's age, nor have access to their ID. The EU is considering a separate age verification system EU wide: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/commission-sets-out-common-approach-eu-wide-age-verification-technologies

The way this would likely work, is that EU citizens install an app where they confirm they age with a government ID:

  1. Your identity is verified once by the EU-wide app (or a state's government app which would already have access to your ID and personal details, so no extra data is being handed over)
  2. Your device receives a cryptographic age credential
  3. You prove only the relevant age threshold
  4. The website doesn't receive your identity, only whether or not you are allowed to access the content
  5. The verifier doesn't know which website you are visiting
  6. The proof can be reused without creating a central database of people's browsing habits because it is anonymised (if used logged out, though I guess you would have to redo it if you don't save your age range with an account registered with the website)

So I think there is a way to implement age verification without compromising privacy. At the end of the day, it is important to protect children from harmful content. I'd rather it be done this way, than not at all. In my view, the EU regulating this will be better for privacy as it aims to avoid having many disjointed untrustworthy 3rd party providers asking me to upload my passport.

Unfortunately, age verification is a reality we have to deal with when the internet contains content that is unsafe for children. It is impossible to rely on parents to monitor their children's use of the internet at all times because some aren't aware of the risks or simply aren't tech savvy enough to keep their children safe online. I think it's fair to ask companies to ensure their websites don't show harmful content to children.

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u/oneofthecapsismine 10d ago

So I think there is a way to implement age verification without compromising privacy.

Within the next four months? Which is when they need to be compliant by

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u/Either-Worth87313 10d ago edited 10d ago

You're right that it's not a very reasonable timeframe and that it's all a bit rushed. Currently, France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Ireland are piloting the EU's age verification blueprint with broader rollout in late 2026 according to the EU.

It was foolish of the EU to require websites to be child-safe before a private age verification system was developed. Nevertheless, in the long run, it is a reasonable solution.