4 ms·

> All social media websites have to check the passport of every UK user that registers? credit card?

by kmlx 4y ago

gambiting 4y ago
Last time I checked not having a debit card is not a crime in the UK, nor is one considered a valid form of id.
- luckylion 4y ago
  And being on an online-platform is not a right. It doesn't need to be valid form of id to be "good enough" for platforms as an age verification system. "But children could just get their parents' credit cards" ... and they could also just get their parents' passports.
  - gambiting 4y ago
    I mean, in the UK you can get a debit card from 13 years of age so I'm not sure how that helps. Credit cards no, but requiring one would exclude a massive portion of the population as they just aren't as popular. Frankly, to me that's just an argument against requiring anything to prove your age on an online platform. It shouldn't be necessary and I consider this a bad development.
    - luckylion 4y ago
      If it's 13+ that would work if the minimum age for these platforms is also 13+. It's certainly not perfect, but if implemented, it would probably not be the only way to verify your age (or it might if credit card companies are smart and pay the platforms). Germany has similar simple ways to provide pseudo-verification, e.g. they'll use direct-deposit or direct-debit to transfer a cent or three and put a code in the subject field that you'll need to enter. It's not perfect, and they wouldn't even know who you are, since account numbers aren't tied to names, but it proves (sufficiently for them to say "we really tried") that you are the account owner. While they don't know who you are, your bank has to because of KYC, and in case of trouble they could say "talk to the bank, they know who's hiding behind this username". Of course there are edge cases and ways around it, but it's enough that they get out of hot water. I don't really have an opinion on whether age should be verified. I'm past most minimum ages and I don't have children, so I'm not affected.
    - rosnd 4y ago
      There is no minimum age to get a debit card in the UK, 13 just happens to be a common limit imposed by the banks themselves.
    - vidarh 4y ago
      Go Henry describes their debit cards as "perfect for kids aged 6-18". My son is 13 now, but he's had a Go Henry card for years. https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/ https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/
  - whywhywhywhy 4y ago
    Or they will just use platforms outside of their governments control. Like is a platform run out of China going to care what fines the UK government threatens.
    - luckylion 4y ago
      Possibly, but the same argument can be made for GDPR, and it works pretty well there. In the end, the Chinese will either want to monetize it, at which point they need a presence in the UK, or they're monetizing via psy-ops paid for by the CCP and they will be considered a security issue by the UK and probably shut down (at least for access from the UK). Sure, that might lead to teenagers using VPNs to access it, but I wouldn't count on that. Most of them aren't even using adblockers.
- vidarh 4y ago
  And children can get them: https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/ https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/
whywhywhywhy 4y ago
I’m almost 40 and have never had a credit card… don’t see why that would be a fair requirement.

> All social media websites have to check the passport of every UK user that registers? credit card?

by kmlx 4y ago

> All social media websites have to check the passport of every UK user that registers? credit card?

gambiting 4y ago

Last time I checked not having a debit card is not a crime in the UK, nor is one considered a valid form of id.

luckylion 4y ago
And being on an online-platform is not a right. It doesn't need to be valid form of id to be "good enough" for platforms as an age verification system. "But children could just get their parents' credit cards" ... and they could also just get their parents' passports.
- gambiting 4y ago
  I mean, in the UK you can get a debit card from 13 years of age so I'm not sure how that helps. Credit cards no, but requiring one would exclude a massive portion of the population as they just aren't as popular. Frankly, to me that's just an argument against requiring anything to prove your age on an online platform. It shouldn't be necessary and I consider this a bad development.
  - luckylion 4y ago
    If it's 13+ that would work if the minimum age for these platforms is also 13+. It's certainly not perfect, but if implemented, it would probably not be the only way to verify your age (or it might if credit card companies are smart and pay the platforms). Germany has similar simple ways to provide pseudo-verification, e.g. they'll use direct-deposit or direct-debit to transfer a cent or three and put a code in the subject field that you'll need to enter. It's not perfect, and they wouldn't even know who you are, since account numbers aren't tied to names, but it proves (sufficiently for them to say "we really tried") that you are the account owner. While they don't know who you are, your bank has to because of KYC, and in case of trouble they could say "talk to the bank, they know who's hiding behind this username". Of course there are edge cases and ways around it, but it's enough that they get out of hot water. I don't really have an opinion on whether age should be verified. I'm past most minimum ages and I don't have children, so I'm not affected.
  - rosnd 4y ago
    There is no minimum age to get a debit card in the UK, 13 just happens to be a common limit imposed by the banks themselves.
  - vidarh 4y ago
    Go Henry describes their debit cards as "perfect for kids aged 6-18". My son is 13 now, but he's had a Go Henry card for years. https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/ https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/
- whywhywhywhy 4y ago
  Or they will just use platforms outside of their governments control. Like is a platform run out of China going to care what fines the UK government threatens.
  - luckylion 4y ago
    Possibly, but the same argument can be made for GDPR, and it works pretty well there. In the end, the Chinese will either want to monetize it, at which point they need a presence in the UK, or they're monetizing via psy-ops paid for by the CCP and they will be considered a security issue by the UK and probably shut down (at least for access from the UK). Sure, that might lead to teenagers using VPNs to access it, but I wouldn't count on that. Most of them aren't even using adblockers.
vidarh 4y ago
And children can get them: https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/ https://www.gohenry.com/uk/debit-cards/

whywhywhywhy 4y ago

I’m almost 40 and have never had a credit card… don’t see why that would be a fair requirement.