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Why Parents Are Worried About This Digital ID Problem?
Europe wants to protect kids online. But their new age check system has a big problem. The system needs Google and Apple to work. This means kids must have accounts with American tech companies just to prove they are old enough for certain websites.
What Is This Age Check System?
The European Union is building an app to check if kids are old enough to use certain websites. The goal sounds good – keep kids safe online. But the way they plan to do it has upset many people.
The app would let users prove their age without sharing too much personal information. Users would show they are old enough for restricted websites without telling those sites exactly how old they are.
The Big Problem With Google Dependency
Here’s where things get tricky. The EU app uses Google’s Play Integrity API and Apple’s App Attestation to check if apps and devices are real. These are services run by American companies.
This creates several problems:
- Kids need Google or Apple accounts to use the system
- Only works on approved devices – no custom Android versions allowed
- Apps must come from official stores – no sideloaded or alternative apps
- Gives more control to foreign companies over European identity checks
Critics say this makes Europe even more dependent on American tech giants. One user on GitHub wrote: “Requiring a dependency on American tech giants for age verification further deepens the EU’s dependency on America”.
Who Gets Left Out?
The current system would block many users:
- People using custom Android versions like LineageOS or GrapheneOS
- Users who don’t want Google or Apple accounts
- Anyone using non-standard devices
- People who prefer to install apps from alternative sources
These users would be locked out of age-restricted services, even if they can prove their age other ways.
Better Options Already Exist
The Dutch company Yivi already offers age verification that doesn’t depend on Google or Apple. Yivi lets users prove their age through:
- Government records
- Bank verification
- Other trusted sources
Unlike the EU’s planned system, Yivi doesn’t require American tech company approval. It also offers stronger privacy protection through advanced encryption that prevents even issuers and verifiers from tracking users.
What Privacy Really Means
Age verification systems claim to protect privacy. But they create new privacy risks:
- Data sharing with multiple companies
- Tracking across different services
- Central databases that could be hacked
- Foreign control over personal information
Research shows that current age verification often fails to protect children while risking their other rights. The systems meant to help kids might actually harm them.
The Real Cost of This System
Age verification systems face many challenges:
- High costs for companies to implement
- Privacy concerns from families
- Technical problems that don’t work well
- Risk of overreach and censorship of legal content
Studies suggest these systems often don’t effectively protect children from online risks while creating new problems for family privacy.
What Should Happen Instead?
Experts suggest better approaches:
- Use existing European solutions like Yivi that don’t depend on foreign companies
- Support multiple verification methods including document scanning and bank checks
- Allow alternative app stores and custom devices
- Focus on education rather than just blocking access
The EU should build truly independent systems that don’t require American company approval. This would better protect European digital sovereignty while still keeping kids safe.
The Path Forward
The EU’s age verification project is still in early testing. The developers admit the current version is just for “demonstrating the business flow” and isn’t ready for real use.
This gives Europe a chance to fix the problems before launch. They could:
- Remove requirements for Google and Apple approval
- Add support for document scanning and other verification methods
- Work with existing European solutions like Yivi
- Ensure the system works on all devices, not just approved ones
Age verification is a complex challenge. But the solution shouldn’t make Europe more dependent on foreign tech companies. Kids deserve protection that doesn’t come at the cost of digital independence.
The debate continues on GitHub, where developers and users are still arguing about these problems. Whether EU officials will listen and make changes remains to be seen.
Good age verification should protect kids without creating new dependencies or excluding users. Europe has the technical ability to build such a system – if they choose to do it right.