A coalition of 19 organizations warns against age verification and online restrictions following new legislation
Category: Politics
In a concerted effort to protect the open web, a coalition of 19 digital rights organizations and technology providers has issued a strong statement urging UK policymakers to reconsider their approach to online safety. This comes in the aftermath of the recent passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which critics argue could undermine internet freedoms and privacy rights.
The coalition, which includes prominent groups such as Mozilla, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), ExpressVPN, and Stop Killing Games, published an open letter on May 5, 2026, calling for policies that address the root causes of online harm rather than imposing restrictive measures that could have far-reaching negative effects.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which became law on April 29, 2026, grants the UK government new powers to impose restrictions on social media use for individuals under 16 years old and includes a statutory ban on smartphones in schools. As part of this legislative push, the government has initiated a national consultation on online harms, which is open until May 26, 2026. This consultation considers placing various platforms and features behind age gates, including video games and VPN services.
The letter from the coalition emphasizes that age verification processes could require all users—regardless of age—to verify their identities, leading to increased tracking and potential data breaches. "Existing age assurance technologies are either insufficiently accurate, undermine privacy and data security, or are not widely available across populations," the letter states. This concern highlights the risks associated with mandating age verification across core internet services, which could inadvertently entrench the dominance of large tech companies and create a fragmented web experience.
The implications of these proposed restrictions extend beyond just privacy concerns. The coalition argues that the measures being considered do not effectively protect children and may actually hinder their access to important information. The internet serves as a valuable resource for young people seeking information about sensitive topics such as family abuse, politics, or their sexuality—subjects they might not feel safe discussing offline. By imposing broad age restrictions, the government risks making the internet a less accessible space for these vulnerable populations.
"The internet is an important resource that enables young people to engage with the world in a way that transcends their immediate environment," the statement reads. As policymakers grapple with the challenges of online safety, the coalition advocates for a more thoughtful approach that prioritizes children’s rights and agency.
In their open letter, the coalition asserts that the current approach taken by UK policymakers is a "blunt policy intervention" that fails to address the underlying issues of online harm. Instead of implementing access bans and age verification mandates, they call for measures that hold tech companies accountable for creating safe online spaces. This includes improving content moderation practices and addressing irresponsible data practices that currently dominate many platforms.
Experts within the coalition have expressed concern that the UK government’s focus on restricting access to online services may not only fail to improve safety for young users but could also lead to unintended consequences that negatively affect all internet users. For example, the requirement for all users to verify their ages could create barriers to accessing various online services, including educational resources.
The coalition remains committed to working with policymakers to develop effective, proportional measures that genuinely protect children online without undermining the open web. They are ready to provide expertise and collaborate on solutions that uphold users’ rights and promote a safer internet.
As the national consultation on online harms continues, the coalition urges the government to reconsider its approach and engage with experts to create a framework that genuinely addresses the root causes of online harm. The deadline for public feedback on this consultation is May 26, 2026, providing a limited window for stakeholders to influence the future of internet policy in the UK.
In the face of increasing regulatory scrutiny and calls for accountability, the coalition's message is clear: now is the time to prioritize the open internet and the rights of all users, particularly the most vulnerable among us. As the debate continues, the future of online access and privacy in the UK hangs in the balance.