Who gets to decide what teens can do online?
Summary
Host Dina Temple-Raston and legal scholar Eric Goldman discuss the complexities of new age verification laws designed to protect minors online. They explore the technical and privacy challenges of verifying age, noting that such measures often create friction, security risks, and costs that shrink audiences. Goldman argues that framing the issue solely as "child safety" is misguided, suggesting we should instead focus on enhancing children's welfare and self-actualization. The episode highlights the unresolved legal frontier regarding minors' rights, warning that age-check infrastructure co…
Topics discussed
Introduction: The challenge of identifying kids online
Eric Goldman on age authentication in the real world
The argument for age-appropriate online experiences
Historical context: Parental anxiety and early internet
The 1996 Communications Decency Act and legal stakes
The legal frontier: Defining minors' rights online
Sponsor segments and transition to current legislation
New state laws and the privacy cost of age checks
Security risks and the paradox of data collection
User friction: The 'bulk rate' of turning away
Economic impact on publishers and the slippery slope
Concerns about identity verification and censorship
Sponsor segments and transition to children's perspective
First Amendment rights and limits on minor access
Reframing the debate: Safety vs. child welfare
Conclusion: The enduring difficulty of drawing the line
Credits and promotion for Cyber Daily
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