Stop Online ID Checks WEEK OF ACTION
Why we’re raising hell
“The Age-Gated Internet Is Sweeping the US. Activists Are Fighting Back“
The invasive practice of demanding a government ID, credit card, or face scan to access websites has been growing in popularity among censorship-loving lawmakers globally. Lawmakers claim blocking sites and demanding IDs keeps kids safe. But what lawmakers claim isn’t “safe” for kids is often the very information that marginalized people need to survive: abortion care, sex ed, LGBTQ+ community, journalism, and political speech. And collecting massive amounts of our sensitive data to store in insecure databases sure isn’t safe, either.
With the implementation of the UK Online Safety Act and online ID check bills across the US, we’ve seen the real impacts of age-gating: popular games, Reddit, Bluesky, and X locked away, tens of thousands of IDs leaked online, and millions restricted from seeking out life-saving information. In response, VPN usage is soaring, and with it, fascist appetites for VPN bans. Online ID checks put the open Internet we know and love at risk. We need a firestorm against them—help us build it this week.
LIVESTREAM: Live reacts + analysis on ID checks Congressional hearing
Our policy counsel and other members of our team react live and provide commentary + analysis as Congress considers 19 bills in a House Energy & Commerce committee hearing on Dec. 2. The hearing includes bills that would mandate online ID checks across the internet and censor very important resources for young people.
REDDIT AMAs: Experts answer questions about online ID checks in r/pcgaming and r/prochoice!
Members of our team join friends including Taylor Lorenz and friends at ACLU, EFF, Woodhull Freedom Foundation to answer your questions about the dangers of age-gating, particularly for abortion access.
LIVESTREAM: Digital and human rights leaders weigh in on impacts of ID checks on vulnerable communities + our organizing
A panel of organizers deeply invested in abortion and gender-affirming healthcare access unpack how “protecting kids” has often been a gateway to censoring information, banning books, taking away rights to abortion, and silencing LGBTQ communities.
WHAT TO DO
STEP 1: Sign the petition to companies demanding they don’t pre-comply with ID checks and censoring abortion info.
STEP 2: Sign the petition voicing your opposition to ID check mandates that censor and suppress life-saving information on the internet!
STEP 3: Share about the week of action *everywhere* Reddit, Bluesky, IG, Youtube…
Tag your favorite creators in the comments! Check out our Creator Toolkit for info on how you can spread the word.
STEP 4: More ways to help!
Articles to share with your community:
- https://www.wired.com/story/age-verification-is-sweeping-the-us-activists-are-fighting-back/
- https://www.techpolicy.press/age-verification-is-locking-trans-people-out-of-the-internet/
- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/some-democrats-are-helping-the-trump-admins-anti-lgbtq-tech-agenda
- https://www.techpolicy.press/papers-please-the-republican-plan-to-wall-off-the-internet