You’d be insane not to utilize a VPN service in this era: Indeed, it can primarily be used to access media from different countries, but in the current environment, it serves a greater purpose. With an increasing number of regions implementing laws that restrict access to websites and content through so-called age verification regulations, VPNs can assist in circumventing those as well. Missouri’s recent statewide verification regulations serve as a prime example, with in-state inquiries for VPNs quadrupling following their enactment.
The issues arise from the manner in which the verification is executed to lift the restrictions. The Age Verification Providers Association indicates that any website or application containing one-third or more of “material harmful to minors” must confirm users’ ages prior to granting access. Other states with similar legislation include Florida, Louisiana, Utah, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, North and South Carolina, among others. Not only are the definitions of “harmful content” ambiguous, but age verification is conducted through concerning methods. Scanning or photographing your government-issued ID and other sensitive documents isn’t an unmanageable task, yet it poses certain risks.
After you finalize the verification procedure, that information is available online with no assurance that it will stay secure. The law prohibits involved entities from keeping identifying information unless mandated by law enforcement, but that offers little comfort. Some of the largest data breaches in history happened at companies that should have been able to adequately secure user data, and the same could easily occur with IDs needed for verification.
