Electronic Frontier Foundation Launches Campaign Against Age Verification Laws

The Electronic Frontier Foundation launched an Age Verification Resource Hub on December 10, 2025, to oppose the proliferation of age verification laws. The organization argues that mandates requiring biometric scans or government IDs create surveillance and censorship regimes that undermine privacy and free expression for users of all ages. The EFF contends these laws are ineffective for child safety and instead advocates for the passage of a comprehensive federal privacy law.

To support the initiative, the EFF scheduled a Reddit AMA on the r/privacy subreddit from December 15 to 17. On January 15, the organization hosted a livestreamed panel titled "The Human Cost of Online Age Verification." During the discussion, experts from the EFF, Gen-Z for Change, and the Collaborative Research Center for Resilience argued that age-gating laws facilitate widespread online surveillance and exclusion.

Panelists highlighted the risks associated with collecting sensitive biometric data and conducting ID checks, stating such measures threaten anonymity and increase the likelihood of data breaches. This campaign follows a global trend of restrictive digital mandates, with half of U.S. states enacting age verification laws and similar restrictions implemented in the United Kingdom and Australia.