I keep seeing stuff about YouTube boycotts due to their new policy of using AI age estimation and asking for government ID if they think you’re under 18. I hate to tell you, but these protests will accomplish nothing because YouTube’s hands are tied by law.
AGE VERIFICATION OR ESTIMATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN SEVERAL U.S. STATES AND THE UK (plus there are arguments it’s implicit in the EU’s GDPR).
I cannot explain how much YouTube, Meta, TikTok, etc. despise these laws. They don’t want to be in the business of collecting government ID. They don’t want that data.
But politically they’re stuck because they can’t openly oppose a “child safety” law. Worse, both Democrats and Republicans have favored these laws, so they have bipartisan support.
Eg, Gavin Newsom signed California’s AADC law and lashed out at a lawsuit alleging AADC was unconstitutional.
INSTEAD OF BOYCOTTING YOUTUBE, CALL YOUR STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. GO TO THEIR TOWN HALLS TO CRITICIZE THEM. TWEET AT THEM. PUT UP SIGNS NEAR THEIR HOME.
And vote, dammit. If you’re not voting for your state representatives and senators in your state elections (not just your federal U.S. House of Representatives and Senate!), then none of this matters.
