this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2025
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[–] Ooops@feddit.org 29 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Not that it isn't equally stupid but the correct statement would be: "[...] forcing operating system makers to include age assurance at the operating system level parents can optionally activate".

or "Yes, we know parent are idiots that can't be bothered to actually parent. So we need to give them an one-click solution for something elementary they simply refuse to do."

[–] ISOmorph@feddit.org 18 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

This is clearly a foot in the door situation. A couple of months after this law becomes encorcable, the option will be turned on by default and can optionally be turned off. A couple months later it can only be turned off with an actual ID check. Boom, complete transparency who does what and where on the internet.

[–] RidderSport@feddit.org 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I do see your point on the other hand I trust the German legal system to honour the rights of the people and that they would cancel this law if it would devolve to that.

[–] Don_alForno@feddit.org 5 points 2 months ago
[–] Sas@beehaw.org 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ha, nein. Have you seen our government?

[–] RidderSport@feddit.org 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes I have and I don't trust them, I was speaking about the legal system

[–] Anivia@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

The legal system in which police get a search warrant to raid your home if you call a local politician a dick on Twitter?

[–] germanatlas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sometimes it feels like a concerning amount of parents don’t actually want to parent their child, but just sit them in front of a display and not be bothered until bedtime

[–] Chais@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 months ago

I guess that's what happens when you're essentially peer pressured into procreating.

[–] azimir@lemmy.ml 21 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

No.

My computer and my home should be controlled by me and I should be responsible for my children. Yes, that means I have to know how to configure any systems and talk with my children as needed for our home and their well being. I have to be the adult in the home, not the tech provider.

[–] kossa@feddit.org 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Well, you overestimate the tech literacy of people by quite a large margin.

My sister reads an article about evil tech corpos every 6 months or so and then asks, how she ensures more privacy.

Then I tell her "OK, let's install Firefox and ad-blocking as a first step, that is easy, does not affect your usage and does quite a lot already" and she's immediately like "Ok, please stop your nerd talk, that is too much".

She needs some one-click solution for stuff like that, otherwise she's lost to what corpos deem best for "her" (i.e. their bottom line).

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Even if there was an one click solution, most people still won't use it. I mean installing Firefox and ad-block is really only like 4 simple steps already. I've had the exact same situation happen a few times already But nope, they rather watch and waste a lot of time on all those ads on YouTube than listen to me for 10 seconds.

[–] e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Overall this seems to be the most reasonable approach to the whole issue so far.

Parents set up a child account on the device. The OS enforces what applications are available and that browsers are launched in some kind of child mode. The browser communicates to websites that the user is underage, for example by sending a http header. Websites check that header and can decide if they allow this user or not.

With this approach I see no glaring privacy issues compared to the recent push for digital ID laws and nobody will have to call their ISP to enable porn mode.

[–] JensSpahnpasta@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago

I really fear that they are building the infrastructure for something much worse here: There are web blocks for "illegal" sites like piracy pages currently in place in Germany. You can totally ignore them by changing your DNS and those anti piracy crusaders are currently trying to sue DNS providers. Guess what industry will be pushing when there is a feature available in every OS which can be used to block piracy sites?

[–] Noja@sopuli.xyz 0 points 2 months ago

The browser communicates to websites that the user is underage

what the fuck, no

[–] Kazel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Mal wieder widerliche Scheiße der Union

[–] Cassa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago

and so the internet dies. to thunderous applause.

K cannot say this more seriously, but educate kids. this doesn't prevent anything, when sex education, tech education and literacy would.

[–] Kazel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

Internet und Handyverträge sind ab 18, vllt sollten Kinder das halt nicht benutzen. Auto dürfen Kinder ja auch nicht fahren

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is what should have been done in the first place.

The phone (and family account) can establish age, then save a token that can be used privately by websites to authenticate age without making everyone divulge their face picture, ID, and private info to some rando 3rd party site.

As a parent, I'm totally OK with that. I want my kid to have a phone to stay in touch with friends, look up info, and play games. You know, kid stuff. I don't want to hand over a portal into hardcore porn, violence, and stupid bullshit before they are old enough to process it all.

I don't imagine any serious web or app developer wanting kids trolling around their sites, creating legal liabilities for them.

[–] kossa@feddit.org 6 points 2 months ago

any serious web or app developer wanting kids trolling around their sites

Unfortunately that is what every corpo wants. Like, you can't establish brand recognition and brand loyalty early enough. Reap those sweet, sweet $$$ by getting kids addicted to your algorithms and shit.