Well that explains a lot: Meta is behind the push for age verification laws, to the tune of $2 billion.
I had been wondering to what degree they might be responsible, since the sudden and global appearance of related legislation hardly seemed organic.
https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1rshc1f/i_traced_2_billion_in_nonprofit_grants_and_45/
Meta Platforms: Lobbying, Dark Money, and the App Store Accountability Act
An open-source intelligence investigation into how Meta Platforms built a multi-channel influence operation to pass age verification laws that shift regulatory burden from social media platforms onto Apple and Google's app stores.
https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings
OS Age Verification bils are not funded by a "grassroots coalition of conservative nonprofits." They're funded by #meta. This investigative work suggests it's all a massive operation to increase Meta's data harvesting (massively) whie handicapping Google And Apple.
If you are in the US and are wondering about this age verification bullshit the the pieces of shit governments and corporations are trying to push, here is some good information about it. This has helped me to understand it better, it just makes me hate it more but at least i understand the enemy. #fuckageverification #fuckthegovernment #ageverification
You go out to buy a new laptop. Before you even set it up, it asks for age verification. What do you do?
#AgeVerification
vx-underground (@vxunderground)
Meta가 온라인 연령 검증 법안 통과를 위해 정치인들에게 보조금 및 기부 형태로 20억 달러 이상을 썼다는 주장에 대한 트윗입니다. 대규모 자금 동원이 규제·정책 형성에 영향을 미쳤다는 내용으로, 연령 인증 관련 법·정책 논의와 기업 로비 활동의 연관성을 지적합니다.
A redditor (Ok_Lingonberry3296) traced $2 billion in nonprofit grants and lobbying records across 45 states to figure out who's behind the age verification bills.
The answer is Meta - a company that profits from your data writing laws that collect more of it.
Page: https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings?tab=readme-ov-file
Page backup: https://archive.ph/2026.03.13-193015/https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings?tab=readme-ov-file
Reddit discussion: https://web.archive.org/web/20260313143853/https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1rshc1f/i_traced_2_billion_in_nonprofit_grants_and_45/
#Meta #Facebook #AgeVerification #privacy #surveillance #dystopia #socialmedia #technology
RE: https://piipitin.fi/@karilapio/116222817976946501
I did wonder where this age-regulation thing came, seeing as the last few years have been full of news about Meta's services harming democracy, and causing at least one genocide.
Then suddenly everybody is concerned about what children are exposed to (with the unsaid assumption that you can show all sort of fascist slop to adults), and it's apparently A BIG THING to which every government is addressing by putting legislation on the fast track.
Reddit just deleted a post with 7400 upvotes with the Title:
"I traced $2B in grants and 45 states' lobbying behind age‑verification bills"
.... US Corpos do not want us to see this but luckily we still have this github repo.
Here the relevant reddit post that was removed:
And here the github repo
https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings
Whenever you hear "ban for kids" on the internet, read in reality "ID collection by a sketchy third-party company that will definitely use it or leak it or both for every adult."
Because that's what this truly means.
Also, it doesn't even help the kids.
#AgeVerification #Privacy #MassSurveillance #Authoritarianism
UK asks social media companies to tighten up for under 13’s https://www.3dcandy.social/2026/03/uk-asks-social-media-companies-to-tighten-up-for-under-13s/ #3dcandy #3dcsocial #ageverification #boost #facebook #roblox #socialmedia
Age verification, boon or bane? 🧐
https://itsfoss.com/news/distros-response-age-verification-laws/
The state of the internet is a bunch of people who are on record for being child molesters (or are at least actively covering for said child molesters) telling you that artistic expression is immoral.
"We need mass censorship and surveillance to protect the children, the same children that there are millions of pages of criminal report documents saying we brutally abused." -Lawmakers, Corporate Executives, Celebrities, Conservative Think Tanks, etc. unironically
#Privacy #FreeSpeech #Censorship #DigitalRights #Internet #SocialMedia #AgeVerification #ClientSideScanning #DigitalID
The state of the internet is a bunch of people who are on record for being child molesters (or are at least actively covering for said child molesters) telling you that artistic expression is immoral.
"We need mass censorship and surveillance to protect the children, the same children that there are millions of pages of criminal report documents saying we brutally abused." -Lawmakers, Corporate Executives, Celebrities, Conservative Think Tanks, etc. unironically
#FreeSpeech #Privacy #Censorship #DigitalRights #SocialMedia #Internet #AgeVerification #ClientSideScanning
Age Verification On Linux Is Worse Than We Thought
"I pulled the actual bill text from 5 state age verification laws. They're copy-pasted from two templates. Meta is funding one to dodge ~$50B in COPPA fines — and the other one covers Linux."#AgeVerification #ThinkOfTheChildren #COPPA #FaceBook #Linux #OpenSourcewww.reddit.com/r/linux/comm...
From the linux community on Re...
🚨 Wide ranging powers to restrict Internet access in the UK have been voted through 🚨
Ministers will be able to impose digital ID checks, curfews and VPN restrictions without Parliamentary scrutiny.
This can be used on websites, social media, apps and games with no need to show there's any harm to children.
Find out more ⬇️
#onlinesafety #digitalid #id #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol
Hundreds of scientists say stop! ✋🚨
Governments should pause plans for mandatory #AgeChecks on online services until serious #privacy and #security concerns are addressed.
As countries push to ban children from social media, the risk to everyone’s privacy is growing. 🔐🌍
👉 Read more on #AgeVerification, why scientist say NO & whether your country wants it: https://tuta.com/blog/age-verification-kills-anonymity
Why have age verification to protect the children when the real solution is simple? Just stop having children.
“When you create a law, you have to think about what a future government could do with those powers."
Ministers would have unilateral powers to lock what they see as 'harmful' behind digital ID checks.
This could end up being used on LGBTQ+ and reproductive health content.
🗣️ ORG's James Baker.
#onlinesafety #digitalid #privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol
New #USlaws requiring #ageverification for online content access are impacting adult users, leading to #privacy concerns and potential #workarounds. While intended to protect minors, these laws often involve third-party vendors processing sensitive identity data, raising security risks and questions about data retention. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/social-media-child-safety-internet-ai-surveillance.html?eicker.media #media #socialmedia
I'm seeing so much about the whole #AgeVerification issue... but what I am not seeing is anything about what we're going to do about it. I'm not interested in more wailing about how bad it's going to be. I want to know the plan of action against it.
For the past... I don't know how many years, it's been that way. "Oh, this is bad." "This is so bad." "This is going to be bad." Okay, I believe you. What's our plan? How do we fight? Give me something solid, not just a siren. But ever and always, it's just more "awareness raising". I'm done with that. I'm aware. I'm ready for the battle. GIVE ME THE PLAN.
A world without privacy is also a world without intimacy, without individuality, without diversity, and without democracy.
Certain politicians have clearly expressed they want a world without privacy.
We cannot let them have it passively. We must fight back for our rights. Now.
Or we will lose them.
#Privacy #MassSurveillance #Authoritarianism #AgeVerification
🚨 ID checks to get online could become the new norm 🚨
A new amendment would give the UK government sweeping powers to block access to lawful information and communications.
That's unless we submit our identification to a bounty of providers.
Tell your MP to stop this broad and repressive law ⬇️
https://action.openrightsgroup.org/no-id-checks-web-access
#privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #digitalID #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol
Putting VPNs behind an age wall threatens our privacy.
They keep young people safe from harassment. Business networks secure. Journalists, campaigners and whistleblowers shielded from harm.
Privacy is online safety ✊️
Sign the petition to protect VPN use in the UK ⬇️
https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-government-protect-vpn-use-uk
#vpn #privacy #cybersecurity #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol
#FediPact 
