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One of the lobbyist organizations is backed by the data broker industry (AVPA). And it's well known several privacy rapist corporations (Meta) are also backing these bills. So yes, it absolutely affects us, and that should be obvious.

I'm convinced the pro comments are astroturfing. They've been caught doing it already on Twitter for these bills.

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Is this [AVPA](https://avpassociation.com/)? As far as I can tell, they are a group that benefits from age verification because they directly provide the service. This is typical lobby behaviour? I was not aware that Meta is backing the bill, but based on how they already fingerprint each of their users, I don't see how an additional ID number affects their business model.

I'm still left wondering how it affects us? Is my insurance rate going to change because of this? Because if they can sell the data after ID laws, they can definitely sell it before ID laws too.

I suppose there will always be some astroturfing for such an issue, but I'm not convinced that it is the majority voice. I don't use Twitter anyways, don't plan on giving my data to them. In fact, with anonymous websites like HN, you would never know either way. So to me, we can either eliminate astroturfing with identification, or consider every anonymous voice in good faith.

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Similarly, I do not understand the willful ignorance and bootlicking attitude of those who want to support coercing others into sharing orivate information.

The reasons are mentioned every single time these laws are brought up, I can only assume you're willfully ignoring the concerns people have:

It's a security black hole, increasing our attack surface astronomically.

It causes undue compliance costs for websites to meet basic security standards.

It does not reliably prevent the determined teenager from bypassing these restrictions, e.g. with a vpn, but imposes enormous costs on allegedly a nontarget demograpgic (e.g. everyone else). Small benefit with a large cost is a bad policy.

The problem is entirely manufactured by bureaucrats, the public is concerned with gas prices and making ends meet. The parents that are concerned about their child's internet access can and do take the appropriate precautions because child controls already exist.

Whatever justification is given, the end result is mass surveillance, with the expected consequences in reduction of personal and social liberties. This is nothing to scoff at.

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