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Global Internet Freedom Declines Amid Stricter Age Verification Laws

12/11/2025

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Center

Freedom House Report

The Freedom House report documents a 15-year decline in global internet freedom.
The United States has faced significant setbacks from new age verification laws.
These laws have spread to 25 states and were upheld by the Supreme Court.
Critics such as Pornhub say the regulations threaten privacy and can lead to data breaches, as with Discord's leaked IDs.

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EFF Launches Resource Hub

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) launched a resource hub to counter age verification laws.
Molly Buckley, an EFF activist, said the laws threaten online privacy and access to information.
Half of U.S. states have enacted such laws.
A congressional hearing discussed 19 related bills, none of which safeguard youth.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation will host a Reddit AMA December 15–17 and a livestream panel on January 15.

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Freedom House Report

The Freedom House report documents a 15-year decline in global internet freedom.
The United States has faced significant setbacks from new age verification laws.
These laws have spread to 25 states and were upheld by the Supreme Court.
Critics such as Pornhub say the regulations threaten privacy and can lead to data breaches, as with Discord's leaked IDs.

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