If you were one of few pinning your hopes for Senator Elizabeth Warren to have your back as a user of the free internet – the latest legislative efforts she has been heavily backed might just burst your bubble.

The same goes for those who had the same hopes regarding the activities of Senator Josh Hawley. These two – a prominent Democrat, and a Republican of the same stature – have thrown their weight behind what’s known as the Kids Online Safety Act [PDF].

Online age verification through digital ID is one of its proposed provisions – a topic, and practice, at this point historically burdened with controversies regarding endangering internet users’ privacy and safety, while cynically asserting to be “solving” just the very problem.

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Oh my god Warren every time I think you have your head on straight, you inject yourself into some tech-related thing that you have NO FUCKING CLUE about and then try to push it in a completely fucking idiotic direction.

    Maybe consider that Hawley is a psychopath, and, like, think real hard before making common cause with the guy on literally anything.

  • burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Is there any point to these laws? Aren’t the younger generations usually more tech savvy and this will just make it hard for boomers to use the internet?

    And aren’t these laws all easily by passable by using a free online proxy

    • Dudewitbow@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      It all boils down to the fact that in thr U.S, it cant be enforced because our identity and SSN are tied together, and losing said SSN would be VERY detrimental, so companies cant ask for it (unless they have government approval of course).

      In countries like Korea, KSSNs for example are used for registration purposes and more like IDs, while monetary business like banks would ask for TIN/RRN (Tax Identification number/Resident Registration Number). This distiction allows for online checks to process fine as SSN is essentially name, birthdate and very very basic details only. Korea uses it for instance to monitor game time of minors.

      Because the U.S does not have distiction between IDs, theres absolutely no way without security problems without risk of identity theft because U.S SSN are used for extremely critical things like loans and banking.

  • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Warren and Hawley? Oh they can both fuck off. Warren twisted the knife on Bernie and Hawley exists as himself, being Josh Hawley every day.

    • APassenger@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      More like classist. Those who work two jobs are least able to find time to get ids (assuming things like local jobs or mass transit).

      • Peaty@sh.itjust.works
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        9 months ago

        Voter ID laws are almost entirely driven by attempts to limit non-majority populations from voting.