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Parry Aftab
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1 year ago
in USA Today, age verification, and the death of online anonymity on The Technology Liberation Front
Adam:
You and I agree. Age verification on a free general population social network isn't possible for children.
I suspect that is why MySpace suggested a task force on the issue. If all experts agree that it can't be done and still maintain a free, anonymous network, perhaps USA Today-type comments will cease, or at least be taken with a grain of salt.
I devote my life ot this issue. I shut down my law firm to donate my time ot making sure that everyone, especially children, are safer online.
If there were a system that would work for rich and poor children, without having to obtain parental consent (many wouldn't know how to consent and wouldn't bother, sicne social networking is not a priority), I would be it's biggest proponent. Everytime I appear on the Today Show, Good Morning America, or am quoted somewhere, tech companies contact me with the solution." Mainly these are rehashed versions of old and failed systems, some ignore the law and security, but noe are the answer.
The answer is creating networks designed for kids, that contains kids favrite things ot do, to draw them away from the general audience sites, like MySpace, and into safer environments that have monitors, safeguards and security.
Then we need to make sure that kids look out for each other online, know where to report bad actors, and what to do to protect themselves.
Those are two solutions. Not perfect. But effective.
Best.
Parry Aftab
WiredSafety.org
The Privacy Lawyer
You and I agree. Age verification on a free general population social network isn't possible for children.
I suspect that is why MySpace suggested a task force on the issue. If all experts agree that it can't be done and still maintain a free, anonymous network, perhaps USA Today-type comments will cease, or at least be taken with a grain of salt.
I devote my life ot this issue. I shut down my law firm to donate my time ot making sure that everyone, especially children, are safer online.
If there were a system that would work for rich and poor children, without having to obtain parental consent (many wouldn't know how to consent and wouldn't bother, sicne social networking is not a priority), I would be it's biggest proponent. Everytime I appear on the Today Show, Good Morning America, or am quoted somewhere, tech companies contact me with the solution." Mainly these are rehashed versions of old and failed systems, some ignore the law and security, but noe are the answer.
The answer is creating networks designed for kids, that contains kids favrite things ot do, to draw them away from the general audience sites, like MySpace, and into safer environments that have monitors, safeguards and security.
Then we need to make sure that kids look out for each other online, know where to report bad actors, and what to do to protect themselves.
Those are two solutions. Not perfect. But effective.
Best.
Parry Aftab
WiredSafety.org
The Privacy Lawyer
1 reply
The two solutions you mention are correct; however there is another solution I wish to remind you of.
I'm sure you are aware of the fact that age verification solutions for minors raise three major concerns:
• The kinds of publicly available data are indeed not available for minors or are restricted by federal privacy laws.
• Using schools for confirming the age of minors and for taking the role of digital notary, raises among others, serious privacy concerns and eventually it will also promote marketing or any other kinds of promotional pitches or gimmicks aimed at school age children.
• Potential abuse by online predators through identity theft.
Now, for the first time, there is a new solution that overcomes all above mentioned shortfalls; the biometric age verification system, provided by VerificAge (www.verificage.com). This solution, as you may remember, was selected by the TAB for presentation at the Task Force open meeting that took place last September in Boston:
• VerificAge's solution does not use any kind of data base. Eliminating risks involved in storing and maintaining data.
• It does not identify the user personally but rather his/her age group category; therefore, the user's privacy cannot be jeopardized.
• The system is based on a "one time" biometric measurement that can distinguish a child (under 14 years old) from an adult with a very high accuracy rate.
• It can assert a user's age every time he wishes to access a website, content, or while interacting with others
It seems that this solution is going to change children's surfing culture on the Net as well as increase dramatically children safety online.