The UK has launched strict age-verification laws requiring adults to prove they are over 18 to access pornography and other sensitive online content. Methods include facial scans, ID uploads, and credit card checks. Supporters say these laws protect children, but critics warn of major privacy and free speech concerns. Similar regulations are spreading globally, with age checks now required or tested in the US, EU countries like France and Ireland, and Australia. Experts argue that the systems are intrusive, technically flawed, and risk normalizing surveillance while giving a false sense of safety, potentially harming both adults’ and children’s access to vital information. | 
