Tech & IT
Is age verification effective in preventing children from viewing pornography?
Despite the criticism that the legislation has been watered down, the UK government is standing by its amendments to the Online Safety Bill, claiming that it will protect children from potentially dangerous content on the internet. However, safety groups maintain that it is too easy for children to access pornography online, despite the improved age verification measures.
According to research by Ofcom, one-third of children can view adult content on social media platforms by providing a false date of birth to bypass age restrictions. To combat this issue, the bill requires websites that publish pornography to implement more rigorous measures to ensure that all users are over the age of 18.
Campaigners are demanding action.
Suppose websites do not take the necessary steps to prevent underage access. In that case, Ofcom could impose a fine of up to 10% of their global turnover, and the operators of the sites could be held criminally liable. These steps could involve adults utilizing age verification technology to prove they are over 18 with a credit card or having a third-party service verify their age with government data.
Proposals to mandate commercial porn providers to verify users’ ages or face a UK ban, otherwise known as porn blockers, were abandoned in 2019.
Data privacy concerns
There is a growing fear amongst experts and mothers that young people’s understanding of healthy relationships, sex, and consent is being distorted by their exposure to porn, putting them at risk from predators and making them less likely to report abuse. Internet Matters, an online safety group, reported that more than half of mothers are concerned that it gives their children a negative image of women.
Companies must decide how to best comply with the new rules, and Ofcom may suggest using age verification technologies. OnlyFans, the UK’s biggest adult content site, has made it mandatory for new UK subscribers to use third-party tools from Yoti and Ondato. Although age verification is commonly used in online gambling, there are still concerns about the level of privacy it affords. Campaigners have cautioned that a database of pornography users could be an attractive target for blackmailers if hacked.
Ms. Horten of the Open Rights Group, which aims to protect digital rights and freedoms, stated that the bill created a “Hobson’s choice” for content for children. She stated that the platforms would have to completely block them out or sanitize their platform to the level of the youngest person likely to use the service. Additionally, she added that the only other option would be to use AI systems and biometric data to guess the age of users, which she said “raised serious privacy concerns”.
Iain Corby, the executive director of the Age Verification Providers Association, stated that the businesses he represents had created a variety of techniques to confirm someone’s age online without revealing their identity to the websites they access. He explained that a bouncer at a nightclub might guess your age by your appearance. AI software can estimate your age through a selfie or voice recording. Tests have shown this to be more accurate than the average bouncer.
Stricter legal limits may call for the use of more traditional age verification methods, such as passports or driving licenses, which allow you to prove your age without having to reveal your identity, thus allowing you to remain anonymous online if desired.
Tech & IT
Metaverse Sex: Revolutionizing Intimacy in a Decade
VR to Transform Adult Entertainment with Metaverse Sex in 10 Years
Highlights:
- VR sex replaces porn apps in a decade
- Multi-sensory VR includes touch, smell
- Ethical concerns in virtual consent
- Metaverse allows global virtual encounters
- Shift could aid lonely individuals
According to Sam Hall, managing director of Mixed Reality Rooms, the world of adult entertainment is poised for a transformative shift in the next decade. Hall envisions a future where traditional porn apps and websites are replaced by immersive experiences in the metaverse, enabled by advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology.
This evolution, he predicts, will be driven by the increasing accessibility of VR headsets, paving the way for a new normal in adult entertainment. The introduction of multi-sensory VR, including technologies that simulate touch, smell, and taste, is expected to create experiences that closely mimic real-life interactions. Hall foresees a significant role for connected sex toys, utilizing haptic technology to enhance the virtual experience.
However, this technological leap is not without its challenges. Hall raises critical ethical concerns, particularly around consent in the virtual realm. The use of personal images and virtual avatars without consent poses a significant risk, echoing apprehensions noted in a 2017 report about VR porn’s impact on sexual expectations and potential for abuse.
Despite these concerns, the potential of the metaverse extends beyond just entertainment. Hall suggests that it could democratize sexual experiences, providing new opportunities for those who may find it challenging to find partners in the real world. This virtual world, limitless in its scope, allows individuals to express their desires in diverse settings, real or fictional, private or public.
The integration of VR technology with sexual wellness hardware is still in its nascent stages, but Hall notes that it’s only a matter of time before these technologies fully converge. He points out that people are already exploring romantic connections in virtual spaces, hinting at the future of relationships and intimacy.
As we stand on the brink of this new era, the questions of how quickly these changes will materialize and how they will reshape our understanding of human intimacy remain open. What is clear, however, is that the metaverse is set to redefine the landscape of adult entertainment, offering unprecedented experiences while challenging our conventional notions of consent and connection.
Latest News
Omegle Shuts Down After Child Safety and Legal Challenges
Omegle, a platform for video chatting with strangers, has shut down following numerous child abuse allegations and lawsuits. Over a decade, it linked children with predators, prompting legal scrutiny. Founder Leif K-Brooks, under pressure, cites the challenge of moderating content as a key reason for the shutdown.
Highlights:
- Omegle shuts down following child safety issues.
- Platform linked minors with predators for years.
- High CSAM reports exceed other social platforms.
- Founder Leif K-Brooks announces app closure.
- Legal challenges question Section 230’s scope.
- Calls for systemic online child protection.
Omegle, once a popular platform for connecting strangers through video chat, has officially shut down. Known for its tagline “Talk To Strangers,” Omegle became a concerning destination for minors, leading to its closure last Thursday. This decision comes after more than a decade of the platform inadvertently facilitating connections between children and predators, which led to multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations.
The platform has been embroiled in several child grooming cases. One notable incident involved a Norwegian teenager who met a predator on Omegle at the age of 14, leading to her abuse. In 2022, an FBI investigation uncovered a user sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) acquired through Omegle. The perpetrator was sentenced to 42 months in prison. That year, Omegle reported over half a million CSAM cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a figure higher than those reported by other major platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord.
Founder Leif K-Brooks announced the shutdown, highlighting the intensive content moderation efforts Omegle had undertaken. Despite these efforts, Brooks admitted the platform was misused for heinous crimes. The stress and financial burden of managing the site’s content were significant factors in his decision.
A pivotal lawsuit contributing to Omegle’s downfall involved a 13-year-old identified as C.H. She alleged that at the age of 11, she was coerced into sexual acts by predators she met on Omegle. Her case, which bypassed the protections typically afforded to tech companies under Section 230, highlighted the platform’s inability to safeguard young users effectively.
Despite Omegle’s attempts to combat child exploitation, including the use of AI and human moderators, critics argued that these measures were insufficient. The Canadian Center for Child Protection pointed out the inadequacy of Omegle’s age verification process, which merely required users to confirm they were 18 years old. Disturbingly, conversations and videos discovered on dark web forums indicated that predators had used Omegle to target and exploit children.
The closure of Omegle reflects a growing awareness and intolerance of platforms that fail to protect children from online sexual exploitation. While Omegle’s shutdown is a significant step, it highlights the broader issue of child safety on the internet, underscoring the need for more stringent regulations and proactive measures across all online platforms.
Source: Forbes
Tech & IT
Meta Shifts Age Verification Duty to Google and Apple App Stores
In a recent statement, Meta proposed that Google and Apple’s App Stores should take on the responsibility of online age verification for their apps. This move comes amidst increasing pressure for Meta to implement stringent age controls and parental consent mechanisms to safeguard younger users. The company’s head of global safety argued that the varied verification methods across U.S. states make it impractical for social media apps to manage this process uniformly.
Highlights:
- Meta rejects app age verification role.
- Suggests App Stores handle age checks.
- Focus on parental consent, safety.
- U.S. state laws vary in verification.
Meta, a leading technology company, recently emphasized its stance on not participating in online age verification for its applications. Instead, it suggested that this responsibility should be managed by the App Stores of Google and Apple. This position was clarified in a post by the company’s head of global safety and security.
This suggestion arises amidst growing discussions about implementing effective age controls and requiring parental consent for young users on Meta platforms. The company’s safety head stated that Meta is not willing to take on this responsibility, citing the inconsistency of verification methods across different U.S. states. Such disparities make it challenging for social media applications to uniformly implement age verification.
Consequently, Meta proposes that parents should be the ones giving permission for their children to use apps through Google Play and the Apple App Store. In this system, when a teenager attempts to install an app, a notification would be sent to their parents for approval. This approach is similar to how parents are alerted about in-app purchases. If a parent approves, the child can install and use the app; otherwise, the installation is blocked.
Furthermore, Meta suggests that age verification could be conducted during the initial setup of a child’s device, allowing parents to set age restrictions once, rather than repeatedly responding to alerts or approval requests.
Meta strongly supports legislation that mandates parental approval for users under 16. The company commits to developing features and settings to facilitate parental assistance in app usage by children.
Currently, there are no widespread regulations specifically mandating online age verification in app stores. However, some states, such as Louisiana, are enacting their own laws. These laws require users to verify their age through government-issued IDs to access certain websites. Utah, for instance, recently passed legislation requiring parental approval for children signing up on various online platforms, including Facebook.
As more states introduce age verification laws, discussions about extending these methods to other online applications are intensifying. Lawmakers are exploring new legislation aimed at expanding internet access regulation and enhancing safety measures for broader audiences, especially younger users.
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