James Baker, Platform Power Programme Manager said:

“Social media giants have pushed engagement-driven designs that keep us on their platforms so they can harvest our data for advertising revenues.

This landmark verdict is an important step in acknowledging that it is Big Tech harmful business models are creating toxic online spaces.

The UK Government should take note. Forcing age ID checks for internet access will not solve the problem, because it does nothing to tackle the root structural causes of harm: advertising-driven business models built on surveillance, profiling and maximising engagement.

Age-gates threaten freedom of expression, undermine privacy, and create new cybersecurity risks by requiring people to hand over ever more sensitive personal data.

The real solution is to confront the business models driving these harms, not to restrict access to the open internet.”

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