The Age-Gated Internet: Child Safety, Identity Infrastructure, and the Not So Quiet Re-Architecting of the Web

The post presents a long-form analysis on how age-verification laws are integrating identity requirements into internet infrastructure, such as operating systems, app stores, and identity credentials, rather than limiting them to the application or content layer. It examines the shift in enforcement toward platform chokepoints like Apple and Google, as well as device-level controls, referencing UK identity history, US telecom regulations, and current global policies. The author seeks technical perspectives on enforcement mechanisms, potential bypass methods (e.g., VPNs, sideloading), and new attack surfaces created by these changes.