Michigan 'digital age' bills pulled after privacy concerns raised

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

GDPR, HTTP 451, and Local News Sites

  • Many focus on the irony that an article about privacy is blocked in the EU due to GDPR (HTTP 451).
  • One view: this shows privacy regulation “working” — the site refuses to track/sell data under EU rules, so it simply blocks access.
  • Counterview: small US outlets lack resources to understand and comply with complex foreign laws, especially where there’s little audience/advertising value.
  • Some argue blocking EU users signals an intent to monetize user data without transparency; others say it just reflects legal and administrative overhead (e.g., EU representatives, retention rules, DSA duties).

Debate on GDPR’s Merits

  • Supporters: users shouldn’t need extensions or expertise to get privacy; GDPR empowers data access/erasure and protects the less tech-savvy.
  • Critics: cookie banners and geo-blocking degrade the web; they argue browser tools already block most tracking, and enforcement against small US sites is unrealistic.
  • There is confusion and disagreement on what “European law” entails and how far extraterritorial obligations reach.

Michigan “Digital Age” / Age-Verification Bills

  • Bills were pulled after privacy concerns, but sponsors are reportedly working on replacements with advocacy groups.
  • Some see this as proof democratic feedback still works; others suspect coordinated efforts and temporary tactical retreats rather than a real change of heart.
  • A recurring theme: you cannot restrict children online without verifying everyone’s age, which creates broad privacy and identification implications.

Age Verification, Porn, and the First Amendment

  • Discussion compares ID checks in physical porn stores vs mandated online age verification.
  • Key distinctions raised:
    • In-person checks are ephemeral and already non-anonymous; online checks create persistent, high-risk identity databases.
    • Physical sellers can rely on visual judgment; online systems effectively require ID for all.
  • Some argue claims that such laws are unconstitutional are weak and based more on policy dislike than solid legal reasoning; others emphasize chilling effects and anonymity loss.

Broader Fears: Surveillance and Power

  • Several comments frame age-verification and ID mandates as steps toward a global panopticon and regulatory capture by large tech and identity vendors.
  • There is deep cynicism about bipartisan alignment: many note that widely popular reforms stall, yet surveillance- and control-oriented laws advance quickly.
  • Others stress that public anger about social media’s impact on children creates political incentives to act, even if implementation harms privacy for everyone.