The UK Government's sudden decision to ban social media for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, but a lesser-discussed consequence is the potential for Big Tech companies to collect unprecedented amounts of sensitive user data. This move marks a significant shift in policy, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating that 'tech giants had their chance and failed', and now it's up to the government to 'protect children, back parents and set a new normal'.
The new legislation will require users of platforms such as X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat to prove they are over 16 before accessing content or communicating. To verify this, tech firms may request government identification alongside an image for AI-powered verification – potentially granting access to facial scans, biometric data, and other highly sensitive personal information from millions of users, including children.
Critics argue that increased data collection directly benefits the business models of these large tech corporations. This data is used to construct comprehensive consumer profiles, sold to advertisers to generate revenue or employed in AI training. As Mark Zuckerberg famously stated during congressional questioning in 2018, 'Senator, we run ads' – meaning the primary source of income for these platforms is selling user data.
Although existing protection laws apply to all data collected and sold between companies, there are significant risks associated with accumulating such intimate user information. The potential for this data to be stolen or exploited by malicious actors is considerable, leading to risks such as identity theft, blackmail, and abuse – particularly for vulnerable users like children under an age verification regime.
Proponents of age verification suggest using third-party ID verification software, but this approach merely shifts the economic benefit. Rewarding these vendors with billions in new business does not detach the process from the powerful Silicon Valley ecosystem that politicians often aim to disrupt.