The effects of early access to porn on minors are becoming a growing concern in many countries. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have already implemented age verification systems for accessing this content, and eight states in the United States have done the same, with more considering it. Spain is also preparing its own tool, expected to be ready by the end of summer, according to the Minister of Digital Transformation and Public Service, José Luis Escrivá.
There is a general consensus internationally on delaying the age at which young people are exposed to online porn, with Spain’s average age of exposure being eight years old. However, there is debate on how best to achieve this. Privacy experts are wary of these age verification systems potentially compromising the digital anonymity of Internet users, as they often involve sharing personal data that could be hacked and used for extortion.
Various techniques are being used to verify the legal age of users attempting to access pornographic content, such as requesting credit card information, identity cards, or using facial recognition systems. The French method, tested by the CNIL since 2023, aims to respect user privacy by utilizing a digital intermediary that does not access user-identifying data.
The Spanish government is working on its own age verification system, which will prioritize security and anonymity using European digital wallet standards. The EU’s Digital Services Regulation has also imposed requirements on large pornographic content platforms to verify the age of users. While the French method presents improvements in privacy protection compared to other techniques, it is not without its limitations, such as the user’s IP address still being visible to accessed websites.
Overall, there is a delicate balance between protecting minors from early exposure to pornographic content and ensuring the privacy and security of Internet users. The development and implementation of effective age verification systems will require ongoing collaboration between governments, tech companies, and privacy experts to address these complex issues responsibly and effectively.