You know how some companies require a SMS capable phone number to "prove" you're a real person before they let you register an account? It's usually a measure t

You know how some companies require a SMS capable phone number to "prove" you're a real person before they let you register an account? It's usually a measure to reduce spam, or prevent banned users from making new accounts. It's pretty hard for your every day user to get a new phone number at the moment. Dedicated spammers can still get around it though. But imagine requiring every user to provide their government issued ID on sign up! You instantly know they're a real person, their age, their gender, their demographics! Oh yeah, and it makes banning / unpersoning people really easy too. The government can distribute a list of "wanted individuals", and they won't be able to use online services!