Technologists and policymakers are reckoning with a generation-defining problem on the internet: while it can be a revolutionary force for unprecedented education and connection across the globe, it can also pose dangers to children when they have completely unfettered access.

There is no simple way, however, to monitor children’s internet access without surveilling adults, paving the way for disastrous online privacy violations.

While some advocates praise these laws as victories for children’s safety, many security experts warn that these laws are being proposed and passed with flawed implementation plans, which pose dangerous security risks for adult users as well.

Here’s a primer on where the debate over age and identity verification stands, and where these laws are being enacted.

See Full Page