The Incoming Nightmare of Online Identity Verification Part 1

Many governments around the world are increasingly legislating to require those who seek to communicate online or access controversial content to expose their identities and hand over sensitive identity documents in an unsafe manner.

Two notable examples include the UK Online Safety Act, which came into effect earlier this year, and the Australian Under 16s Social Media ban, which came into effect on the 10^th of December this year. After December 27 2025, search engines operating in Australia will also be required to implement age verification (age assurance) measures for logged-in users.

Such legislation doesn’t just indicate a high level of tech illiteracy, but also poses a threat to freedom, privacy and security.

It also creates a variety of practical problems. For example, if a 15-year-old from Japan comes on a one week holiday to Australia, will they lose access to social media until they turn 16 or just until they return to Japan?

In this two-part series, I will discuss the range of concerns and problems that come with online identity verification requirements.

An issue that I think is extremely concerning yet has received no discussion is how online identity verification risks restricting the ability of those with lower incomes to use social media and the internet. This is because constantly requiring IDs to access websites will result in identity documents inevitably getting compromised which results in the need to replace them.

For example, in South Australia, it costs $20 to replace a driver’s license. This may at first seem insignificant but adds up over time, meaning the ability to access certain parts of the internet and communicate online will be based on your ability to keep paying for replacement IDs.

Online identity verification requirements also make your ability to use the internet and social media dependent on access to more expensive technology such as cameras. Those with either no camera or lower quality cameras may find their access restricted because they have no practical way to photograph their ID or biometrics instantly or in the required manner.

Online identity verification requirements impose a significant financial burden on smaller websites. This was observed when many small community and hobby forums shut down in the UK in the face of the onerous and expensive requirements which came into effect with the UK Online Safety Act.

The nonviability of smaller websites reduces competition ensuring that only larger websites can survive, restricting the ability of communities and specific groups to create their own spaces. The erasure of smaller websites risks harming the communities they serve and reduces the presence of local and topic specific websites.

Online identity verification requirements also risk causing severe harm to vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic violence. Legislation such as the UK Online Safety Act requires all websites that host user-generated content to require ID verification. In Australia the ID requirement applies to websites designated by the eSafety Commissioner, and also search engines from the 27^th of December.

Requiring ID to access online groups and websites that aim to assist victims of domestic violence is quite counterproductive. It allows perpetrators to take the IDs of their victims to hamper them and those who can help them prior to and during their escape. Even resources related to escaping domestic violence are severely hampered.

Whistleblowers also risk exposure. Even websites specifically dedicated to whistleblowers such as Wikileaks would not be safe.

Online identity verification requirements risk frustrating the media as it forces journalists, whistleblowers and all others to connect their identity to every account they create online, including throwaway accounts that are created for temporary use.

I personally created a temporary email account when I was doing research for my article Bacon Sandwiches, Sausage Sizzles and Red Tape as I did not want emails from councils to flood my inbox or for my main email to receive continuous communications from them.

Both the December 10 Under 16 Social Media Ban and the December 27 search engine ID requirements will require social commentators along with anyone they wish to communicate with to hand over IDs when creating new online throwaway accounts.

Online identity verification requirements risk publicly exposing vulnerable groups who rely on internet anonymity to freely discuss matters and get support, such as victims of rape or sexual assault, those who are HIV positive, who can’t talk about their circumstances publicly due to gag orders, refugees and political dissidents, and those who have a need to keep their sexuality secret due to fears of persecution or discrimination.

In my second article on this issue I will continue with the plethora of problems that are caused by online identity verification requirements including some of the more practical security-related concerns.