The Problem

Online age verification is necessary to protect minors from inappropriate content and prevent illegal predatory activity. However, many people have legitimate concerns about handing over their ID information to companies with poor security track records.

The real issue: Companies face almost no consequences when they fail to protect user data. They can sit on breach information for months, offer weak apologies, and provide minimal compensation while users are left dealing with identity theft, financial fraud, and the expensive process of securing their information.

The dishonest argument: Many people hiding behind "but what about data leaks?" aren't actually concerned about privacy—they're mad they can't access content they shouldn't be accessing, whether as minors or worse. But their bad-faith argument works because the legitimate privacy concern is real.

The Solution

Mandatory Data Breach Consequences

Make companies actually accountable for protecting the ID information they require:

Automatic Financial Compensation:

• $500 automatic payout per affected user for ANY data breach involving ID/personal information

• No forms to fill out, no hoops to jump through—automatic payment within 30 days of breach discovery

• Payout covers: costs of changing documents, credit monitoring services, identity protection, and time/effort dealing with the breach

Immediate Mandatory Disclosure:

• Companies must notify affected users within 24 hours of discovering a breach

• Notification required via ALL available channels: email, text message, AND physical mail

• No sitting on information, no delayed disclosure, no "investigating before we tell people"

• Criminal charges for executives who knowingly delay notification

Real Legal Consequences:

• Failure to provide automatic payouts: massive federal fines plus class action liability

• Failure to immediately disclose: criminal charges for executives, not just corporate fines

• Repeated breaches: potential loss of ability to collect ID information entirely

Why This Works

Eliminates the legitimate concern: When data breaches have real, severe consequences for companies, they'll invest heavily in actual security infrastructure instead of treating user data carelessly.

Exposes bad-faith arguments: Once the legitimate privacy concern is addressed with real protections, the only people still opposing ID verification are those with illegitimate reasons (trying to access illegal content, circumvent age restrictions for predatory purposes, etc.).

Creates market incentive for security: Companies that maintain strong security and never have breaches gain competitive advantage. Companies with poor security face financial ruin.

Protects actual victims: Users whose data is compromised get immediate, meaningful compensation without having to fight for it.

Precedent Exists

The government has successfully regulated companies before:

• Microsoft antitrust case (2000s)

• Facebook/Meta privacy violation penalties (billions in fines)

• AT&T breakup

• Various data protection regulations in the EU (GDPR)

We already have the legal framework to hold companies accountable—we just need to actually use it and make the consequences severe enough to matter.

The Bottom Line

ID verification protects vulnerable people online. But users deserve real protection when companies fail to secure their data. By making data breaches financially devastating for companies, we create a system where:

1. Companies take security seriously from day one

2. Users can provide ID information knowing they're protected if something goes wrong

3. Bad actors can't hide behind privacy concerns to oppose necessary age verification

4. The cost of poor security falls on companies, not users

This isn't anti-privacy. This is pro-accountability.

Support ID verification with teeth: real consequences for companies that fail to protect user data, and real compensation for users when breaches occur.