[ck2]

if you are paying for internet access you have to be over 18, no?

and if you have internet access without paying, that means someone else is legally responsible for your access

"problem solved" ?

[moritonal]

This is the answer. If you provide internet access to someone, you're responsible for it. It's a generally established law from a Torrenting PoV, so isn't it equally applicable to downloading content unsuitable for children. Sure it'll destroy offering free wifi, but that always was tricky from a legal PoV around responsibilities.

[malfist]

Famously children can only access internet from wifi paid for by their parents.

I'm not for these draconian age verification nonsense, but this isn't a valid argument.

[bondarchuk]

It is a valid alternative avenue towards a legal implementation of "child safeguarding" IMO. Someone pays for the internet, that person is responsible for what minors do on their connection. If they have trouble doing that we can use normal societal mechanisms like idk social services, education, and government messaging.

This is the way it works with e.g. alcohol and cigarettes, most places. Famously kids can just get a beer from a random fridge and chug it, but someone 16/18/21+ will be responsible and everyone seems mostly fine with this.

[gpderetta]

Ideally the law would require websites (and apps) to provide some signed age requirement token to the client (plus possibly classification) instead of the reverse. Similarly OS and web clients should be required to provide locked down modes where the maxium age and/or classification could be selected. As a parent I would the be able to setup my child device however I wish without loss of privacy.

Is it bypassable by a sufficiently determined child? Yes, but so it is the current age verification nonsense.

[daveoc64]

> if you are paying for internet access you have to be over 18, no?

No, that's not the case.

[john_strinlai]

every contract by every ISP i have ever signed has required me to be over the age of 18 to enter the contract.

[sidewndr46]

unless your kid never goes to public school that isn't true

[zobzu]

or goes outside at all. free wifi is everywhere