Archive · 14 Dec 2025
Expert Warns Age-Verification Laws May Risk Children's Safety
A child-safety expert named Stephen Antony Venansious is worried about new laws that require kids to prove their age online.
He thinks these laws might actually make kids less safe because they ask for personal information like photos or identity documents.
Instead, he suggests using technology that can detect bad behavior online without collecting personal data.
This way, kids can stay safe without giving up their privacy.
Other experts and organizations, like UNICEF, agree that we need to be careful with these laws so that kids aren't pushed to more dangerous places online.
In some countries, like India, there has been an increase in cybercrimes against children, which makes this issue even more important.
Child-safety expert Stephen Antony Venansious warns that age-verification laws may put minors at greater risk.
Mandatory age-verification systems and expanded personal data collection could undermine children’s privacy and safety.
Venansious has developed a technology-driven solution that detects harmful behavior online without collecting personal data.
UNICEF warns that blanket bans and rigid age-based restrictions could push children toward unregulated and potentially more dangerous online spaces.
India has seen a 32% increase in cybercrimes against children between 2021 and 2022.
- Who
- Stephen Antony Venansious, a child-safety technologist
- What
- Warns that age-verification laws may put minors at greater risk
- When
- At a time when child-safety legislation is rapidly evolving
- Where
- Globally, with specific mentions of the US, Australia, and India
- Why
- To highlight the potential risks of mandatory age-verification systems and expanded personal data collection
- Expert Name
- Stephen Antony Venansious
- Proposed Solution
- Technology-driven solution for detecting harmful behavior
- Solution Type
- API for on-device behavioral analysis
- Data Collection
- No biometric verification or personal identifiers
- UNICEF Warning
- Blanket bans may push children to unregulated spaces
- India Cybercrime Increase
- 32% increase in cybercrimes against children (2021-2022)
- Apple CEO's Stance
- Opposes age-verification measures due to privacy concerns
- Key Concern
- Age-verification may compromise children's privacy