Larry Magid: Utah bill threatens internet security for everyone - Once again, legislation masquerading under the guise of safety could erode freedom and privacy

TL;DR

SB 152 would require parents to provide their government-issued ID and physical address in order for their child or teenager to access social media. But even if you like those provisions, this bill would require everyone — including adults — to submit government-issued ID to sign up for a social media account, including not just sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, but also video sharing sites like YouTube, which is commonly used by schools. Should a 17-year-old be banned from joining a Republican group on social media simply because their parents don’t approve of that party? What about a child interested in Christianity whose parents believe in a different religion?Unintended consequences of well-meaning legislationDisclosure: Larry Magid is CEO of ConnectSafely, a non-profit internet safety organization that receives financial support from technology companies that might be affected by the bills covered in this column

Like summarized versions? Support us on Patreon!