A review of 2025 state policies shows a shift toward surveillance, raising questions about effectiveness and privacy for adult‑content users.
The 2025 review by the Electronic Frontier Foundation notes that many states have adopted age‑verification measures that rely on data collection and monitoring, prioritizing child safety over user privacy. The report highlights that these laws often require third‑party verification services, increasing the amount of personal data stored and potentially exposing users to surveillance.
While the intent is to protect minors, studies cited by Mashable and Focus on the Family suggest that such measures do not effectively prevent underage access and may push adult users toward unregulated sites. Experts argue that a balance is needed, where privacy‑preserving technologies like zero‑knowledge proofs could offer safer verification without compromising user data.