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.

Tech & IT

Italy (AGCOM): Mandatory age checks on adult sites start Nov 12

Italy’s communications regulator, AGCOM, will enforce mandatory age verification for pornography websites starting November 12, 2025. The system is designed to block access by minors and relies on certified third parties (such as banks or mobile operators) to confirm whether a visitor is 18+. After verification, the third party issues an access code that lets the user proceed to the site.

AGCOM describes a “double anonymity” model: adult sites receive only an “of-age” confirmation and never the user’s identity, while verifiers do not see which website the person is trying to access. According to the rules, the check is required on every visit, not just once.

An initial enforcement list covers around 50 services, including major platforms that host or distribute pornographic content in Italy. Sites found non-compliant can face penalties of up to €250,000.

What changes in practice

Start date: November 12, 2025.
Who verifies: Certified third parties that already hold user identity data.
What sites see: Only that a user is of age, not who they are.
Frequency: Verification is required each time a covered site is accessed.
Enforcement: Fines up to €250,000 for failures to comply.

Italy’s move aligns with broader European efforts to implement age-assurance on adult content. Platforms operating in the country are expected to finalize integrations with certified providers and update user flows to meet the deadline, while users should anticipate an extra verification step before entering affected sites.

Cam Sites

Discord: ID photos of 70,000 users may have been exposed via third-party breach

Discord says official ID photos and other data tied to about 70,000 users may have been exposed after a cyber-attack on an external provider used for age verification and customer support. The company, which reports more than 200 million users globally, said on 9 October 2025 that its own platform was not breached and that access for the affected vendor has been revoked.

According to Discord, the leaked information could include personal details, ID images submitted for age checks, partial credit-card data, and messages exchanged with customer support agents. The company added that no full card numbers, account passwords, or messages beyond support conversations were involved. Impacted users have been notified, and the firm says it is cooperating with law-enforcement authorities.

Discord did not name the third-party provider. A representative from Zendesk, which provides customer-service software to Discord, told the BBC its systems were not compromised and that the incident was not caused by a Zendesk vulnerability. Discord also rejected online claims that the breach was larger than stated, calling them inaccurate and “part of an attempt to extort payment,” and clarified that the incident was not a ransomware attack: “We will not reward those responsible for their illegal actions,” a spokesperson said.

The incident underscores why attackers target high-value personal data—such as full names and government-issued identifiers—that tend to remain constant over time and are useful in scams. Discord has tightened age-verification practices in recent years amid concerns about the distribution of prohibited content on some servers and says it continues to invest in safety and verification controls.

Tech & IT

Valve Deckard: What It Could Mean for VR Adult Content

The Deckard is an upcoming VR headset from Valve, expected to launch in the next few months. If current leaks hold, it could be a major upgrade for immersive adult viewing.

Launch timeline. Chinese analyst group XR Research Institute suggests Deckard is targeting the holiday season, with projected annual production of 400k–600k units, comparable to early Vision Pro volumes.

Pricing. Expectations point to a premium ($1,000+) price tier paired with high-end performance.

Why it matters for VR erotica (platform-agnostic):

Display tech. High-resolution OLED/LCD panels with strong contrast and color should elevate skin tones, low-light scenes, and fine detail.
Input & tracking. Newly referenced “Roy” touch-style controllers in SteamVR code hint at better ergonomics and precision—useful for interactive experiences.

Deckard features (per code dives/leaks):

Standalone + PCVR hybrid. Emphasis on wireless PC streaming for 6K/8K playback without tether drag, alongside native PCVR.
Comfort & design. Ergonomic improvements aim at longer, more comfortable sessions.

App compatibility. Popular VR video apps (e.g., PCVR players and standalone viewers) are expected to work seamlessly with Deckard, based on typical SteamVR support patterns and developer indications.

Bottom line: if Valve delivers on display quality, wireless PCVR, and ergonomics, Deckard could become a flagship device for high-bitrate adult VR—without locking users to any single platform.

Source: sexlikereal.com