The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has submitted its feedback to the European Commission on the proposed Digital Services Act (DSA), emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to protect minors online without compromising privacy, free speech, or parental rights.
In its comments, ITIF endorses the use of digital IDs for online age verification, highlighting them as secure and privacy-conscious alternatives. Digital IDs enable users to share only the necessary information, such as confirming their age, without disclosing sensitive personal data like their birth dates. This approach contrasts with biometric age estimation methods, which ITIF criticizes for their inherent inaccuracies and potential privacy issues. Despite being less invasive than traditional ID checks, biometric methods are seen as unreliable and problematic for long-term implementation.
ITIF underscores the importance of safeguarding minors online while maintaining their privacy. While acknowledging that AI-based age verification techniques are continually improving, the foundation points out the persistent concerns regarding their accuracy and the secure handling of personal data. In contrast, digital IDs offer a more efficient and privacy-preserving solution by minimizing the need for users to upload personal images or physical documents.
Additionally, ITIF proposes the creation of a “trustworthy child flag” for parental control. This feature would allow parents to manage their children’s online access without requiring invasive verification methods. ITIF argues that this solution provides necessary oversight while respecting users’ privacy, eliminating the need for sharing government-issued IDs or linking online activities to offline identities.
Furthermore, ITIF warns against weakening encryption standards, stressing that strong encryption is essential for protecting vulnerable populations, including minors and marginalized groups. The foundation cautions that introducing backdoors or discouraging the use of encryption could increase the risk of exposure to malicious actors, who might exploit unregulated platforms to harm these individuals.
The ITIF, an independent nonprofit think tank based in Washington, D.C., focuses on developing policy solutions that drive innovation and productivity. Founded in 2006 by Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF operates with a bipartisan leadership structure and receives funding from diverse sources, including corporations, charitable foundations, individual donors, and some U.S. government agencies.
Despite its U.S. base, ITIF is actively involved in shaping the DSA due to its far-reaching impact on the global digital economy and technology sector. By contributing to the development of EU digital regulations, ITIF aims to influence policies that could serve as international models, including in the United States.
Source: ITIF
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September 28, 2024 – by The Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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