Talking Tech with Zeve Sanderson, Michal Luria, and Aliya Bhatia on Age Verification

Talking Tech with Zeve Sanderson, Michal Luria, and Aliya Bhatia on Age Verification

From CDT Tech Talks by Center for Democracy and Technology

September 24, 2025 · 30 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of online age verification policies on privacy and internet access.

In this episode of Tech Talks, we dive into the growing debate over online age verification. While often framed as a way to protect children, these policies carry major implications for how everyone, adults and children alike, accesses the internet. Unlike showing an ID at a bar, online age checks can require the collection and even long-term storage of sensitive personal data, raising serious privacy and security concerns. The UK’s Online Safety Act has already pushed millions of users to prove their age across thousands of sites, from adult content to everyday topics like current affairs and even knitting. In the U.S., states including Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are rolling out their own requirements, while federal lawmakers weigh new proposals that could expand these mandates even further. Joining this conversation are Zeve Sanderson of NYU’s Center for Social Media and Politics, CDT Research Fellow Michal Luria, and guest host Aliya Bhatia, CDT Senior Policy Analyst. Together, they explore what users really think about age verification, how it changes online behavior, and what’s at stake for balancing child safety with privacy and free expression.

People in this episode

Guests: Zeve Sanderson, Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia

Topics covered

  • age verification
  • online privacy
  • internet safety
  • child protection
  • digital rights

Keywords

  • Online Safety Act
  • sensitive personal data
  • user behavior
  • child safety
  • free expression

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Talking Tech

Places: UK, U.S., Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi

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