Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Fake lifetime license

2026-07-01T05:50:43Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Examples */

{{StubNotice}}

A '''Fake lifetime license''' is a type of license that misleadingly claims it is permanent, doesn't have any expiration date and couldn't be revoked.

This is distinct from [[post-purchase EULA modification]], as the license was never changed, it was always fake.

==How it works==
Fake lifetime licences are advertised as perpetual licenses that cannot be revoked or modified. Companies may deceptively use this practice on a product or service as having a "lifetime" or "forever" license, but when a customer legally gets a license (typically by paying money), the customer is only allowed to use the product/service for a ''limited'' period of time.

Sometimes, the "lifetime" refers to the warranty of the product, not the lifetime of the customer.

Companies do this to artificially increase profits, such as making their licensed copies unusable or making them very limited to encourage users to purchase another license for the same product or a more recent version of it, or by switching to a subscription model for recurring revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grigonis |first=Hillary |date=2022-05-15 |title=After a record-breaking year, Adobe officially axes the old Creative Suite |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/adobe-creative-suite-officialy-retired/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809163317/https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/adobe-creative-suite-officialy-retired/ |archive-date=2022-08-09 |work=Digital Trends}}</ref>

==Why it is a problem==
Most, if not all, customers expect the license to last for as long as humanly possible. When the expectation breaks, they need to change their plans
===Misleading advertising===
Fake lifetime licenses hide the aspect that these licenses have already an established or undefined expiration date that might make the product only accessible via subscription payment or making it partially or completely inaccessible.
===Erosion of consumer rights===
The removal of a fake lifetime license erodes the rights of a consumer who purchased these licenses expecting to do a one-time purchase and keep their license forever, making them unable to use all product's features or access it again only if they pay a recurring fee or a new, taking away their right of ownership.
===Discrimination===
Users who paid for a fake perpetual license might not be able to afford purchasing a new one or paying a subscription, specially if the company increases the prices of the new licenses or subscription fees.
==Examples==
*[[VitalSource "Lifetime" false advertising]] - A license labeled as "lifetime" but only extends to 5 years.
*[[Microsoft]] removing [[Microsoft Office 2019 and 2021 for Mac view-only conversion (2026)| core features of licensed copies of Office 2019 and 2021 on Mac]] on July 2026

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]
[[Category:Common license terms]]

Fake lifetime license

2026-07-01T05:35:22Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: tone modification and expanded "why it is a problem", added MS Office 2019 Mac limitations as example

{{StubNotice}}

A '''Fake lifetime license''' is a type of license that misleadingly claims it is permanent, doesn't have any expiration date and couldn't be revoked.

This is distinct from [[post-purchase EULA modification]], as the license was never changed, it was always fake.

==How it works==
Fake lifetime licences are advertised as perpetual licenses that cannot be revoked or modified. Companies may deceptively use this practice on a product or service as having a "lifetime" or "forever" license, but when a customer legally gets a license (typically by paying money), the customer is only allowed to use the product/service for a ''limited'' period of time.

Sometimes, the "lifetime" refers to the warranty of the product, not the lifetime of the customer.

Companies do this to artificially increase profits, such as making their licensed copies unusable or making them very limited to encourage users to purchase another license for the same product or a more recent version of it, or by switching to a subscription model for recurring revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grigonis |first=Hillary |date=2022-05-15 |title=After a record-breaking year, Adobe officially axes the old Creative Suite |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/adobe-creative-suite-officialy-retired/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809163317/https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/adobe-creative-suite-officialy-retired/ |archive-date=2022-08-09 |work=Digital Trends}}</ref>

==Why it is a problem==
Most, if not all, customers expect the license to last for as long as humanly possible. When the expectation breaks, they need to change their plans
===Misleading advertising===
Fake lifetime licenses hide the aspect that these licenses have already an established or undefined expiration date that might make the product only accessible via subscription payment or making it partially or completely inaccessible.
===Erosion of consumer rights===
The removal of a fake lifetime license erodes the rights of a consumer who purchased these licenses expecting to do a one-time purchase and keep their license forever, making them unable to use all product's features or access it again only if they pay a recurring fee or a new, taking away their right of ownership.
===Discrimination===
Users who paid for a fake perpetual license might not be able to afford purchasing a new one or paying a subscription, specially if the company increases the prices of the new licenses or subscription fees.
==Examples==
*[[VitalSource "Lifetime" false advertising]] - A license labeled as "lifetime" but only extends to 5 years.
*[[Microsoft]] removing [[Microsoft Office 2019 and 2021 for Mac view-only conversion (2026)| core features of Office 2019 copies on Mac]] on July 2026
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]
[[Category:Common license terms]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T01:17:00Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* AI Overview (2023) */

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user, biases and potential control over shown results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities, such as eating rocks or adding glue to pizza.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

Overview hallucinations have also given false claims that have generated controversies, with some cases ending in lawsuits, such as Wolf River Electric suing Google in June 2025 for false AI Overview claims that alleged the company faced a lawsuit from Ellison for deceptive practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> There have been also cases of site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of him having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google search lies by default: this is worse than useless... |url=https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 Jun 2026}}</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T01:10:32Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* AI Overview (2023) */

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user, biases and potential control over shown results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

Overview hallucinations have also given false claims and misinformation that have generated controversies and in some cases lawsuits, such as Wolf River Electric suing Google for false Overview claims that the company faced a lawsuit from Ellison for alleged deceptive practices. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> There have been also cases of site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of him having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google search lies by default: this is worse than useless... |url=https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 Jun 2026}}</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T01:09:04Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* AI Overview (2023) */

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user, biases and potential control over shown results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

Overview hallucinations have also given false claims and misinformation that have generated controversies and in some cases lawsuits, such as Wolf River Electric suing Google for fals e claims of a lawsuit from Ellison for alleged deceptive practices. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> and site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of him having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google search lies by default: this is worse than useless... |url=https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 Jun 2026}}</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T01:01:02Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user, biases and potential control over shown results.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

The implementation of this feature has ended in some cases involving lawsuits due to the misinformation provided by hallucinations<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> and site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of him having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google search lies by default: this is worse than useless... |url=https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 Jun 2026}}</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T00:44:40Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* AI Overview (2023) */

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>, biases and potential control over shown results.
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI <ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref>, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

The implementation of this feature has ended in some cases involving lawsuits due to the misinformation provided by hallucinations<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> and site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of him having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Google Search

2026-06-27T00:44:06Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* AI Overview (2023) */Overview false claims of Rossmann sponsorship with Ground News

{{Stub}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Google
|ReleaseYear=1998
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Service
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=Google.webp
|Website=https://www.google.com
|Description=Google Search is the most used search engine in the world known for controversies involving integration of ads, AI, and the decline of platform's quality over time
}}
Google Search is a search engine created and developed by [[Google|Google LLC]]. It was released on September 27th, 1998.

==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User privacy:''' Google Search stores long-term cookies to save user's preferences, something that has raised privacy concerns.

*'''User freedom:''' Some features such as AI overview or AI mode cannot be completely disabled. The user cannot change the ranking of results other than by crafting queries and changing keywords. Google adds positive bias for ads and partner sites such as [[Reddit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanding our Partnership with Google |url=https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213184611/https://redditinc.com/news/reddit-and-google-expand-partnership |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=12 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An expanded partnership with Reddit |url=https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |url-status=live |website=Google Blog |first=Rajan |last=Patel |date=22 Feb 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112081436/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/expanded-reddit-partnership/ |archive-date=2026-01-12 |access-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref>

*'''Business model:''' Google Search engine gets revenue from ads shown at the top of search results.

*'''Market control:''' Google Search engine is the most used search engine in the world. According to StatCounter, Google Search has a 90.2% market share as of April 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Apr 2026 |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260518141238/https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |archive-date=2026-05-18 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=StatCounter}}</ref> They pay [[Apple]] and [[Mozilla]] to be the default search engine on [[Safari]] and [[Firefox]], respectively.

==Incidents==

===Integration of ads in the search engine===
[[File:Google ad 2000.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2000.]]
[[File:Google ad 2005.jpg|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2005.]]
[[File:Google ad 2014.webp|thumb|An image that shows ads appearance as of 2014.]]
[[File:Google ad no colored label.png|thumb|An image showing modifications to ad labels to make them harder to be spotted.]]
[[File:Google ad current.png|thumb|The current appearance of an ad on Google Search results.]]
''See also:'' [[Enshittification]], [[Advertising overload]]

The search engine didn't have any ads at the beginning, but since October 2000, Google integrated ads at the top of the search results, being easily differentiable from regular search links. Over time, the platform has modified their site layout to prioritize advertisements hyperlinks and make them more difficult to be differentiated from regular links.

Since 2000, advertisements shown in Google Search results appeared at the top of regular results, and there was also a "Sponsored Links" section at the right of the site. The sections dedicated to ads were pretty noticeable at first, being them recognizable due their dedicated sections were colored. Since 2005, Google started to modify the results page appearance to blend better the ads with the organic results. The first noticeable change was the modification of the ads that appeared at the top to align them with the organic results. The section of the right side was no longer colored. Years later the colored and the sections in the right side were removed, and ad links were only differentiable from regular links because they had a small colored "Ad" label next to them. Also, they progressively started to occupy more space, moving down non-ad results and links. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Zelst |first=Peter |date=8 Jul 2016 |title=How Will the New Google Ads Change Search Marketing |url=https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518171232/https://www.zelst.co.uk/blog/how-will-the-new-google-ads-change-search-marketing/ |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Zelst}}</ref> Then, the appearance of these labels was modified to reduce their contrast from the background, and since 2022 these labels were removed, and "Sponsored" sections and labels were added. Links in this section have a similar appearance to links that are not ads. <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ScaleUp Marketing Solutions |date=18 Oct 2022 |title=The word "ad" will no longer appear in Google search advertising, and company names and logos will also be added |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522031237/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/word-ad-longer-appear-google-search-advertising- |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Innermedia |date=5 Nov 2025|title=Google’s Ad Labelling Update: What It Means for Your Digital Marketing Strategy |url=https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308174903/https://www.innermedia.co.uk/googles-ad-labelling-update-what-it-means-for-your-digital-marketing-strategy/ |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref>

===Prioritization of showing sites with AI-generated content in Search results===
On January 30, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=Google is killing authentic websites & I made it worse 😔 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 Jan 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=II2QF9JwtLc |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref> evidencing how Google Search {{Wplink|Search engine optimization|SEO}} (Search Engine Optimization) has been modified to penalize web sites that do not contain AI-generated text. On February 12, he uploaded another video, showing how he managed to make his website the first on the search results page by adding AI-generated text to the site.<ref>{{cite web |first=Louis |last=Rossmann |title=I'm #1 on google thanks to AI BULL💩 - the modern internet is a joke. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 Feb 2026 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Presence of malicious websites and ads on search results===
The integration of ads over the results when searching on Google Search have also brought as a consequence malicious websites disguised as genuine ads, something that has becoming more common over time. These malicious sites usually contain instructions to download malware or run malicious commands.

During May 2026, a security engineer named Berk Albayrak, found and shared information about malicious ad sites that redirect to official [[Claude]] website when searched "Claude download Mac" on Google. These sites contained malicious instructions for running malicious commands disguised as installation instructions, that actually were dedicated to steal user's data and remotely control the machine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax|date=10 May 2026 |title=Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260515154002/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-google-ads-claudeai-chats-to-push-mac-malware/ |archive-date=2026-05-15 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Josh |date=11 May 2026 |title=Malware is now hiding in Google search ads — here's how to protect yourself |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181853/https://www.makeuseof.com/protect-yourself-from-malware-hiding-google-search-ads/ |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=2 Jun 2026|website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

===Integration of AI features onto the search engine (''2023'')===
Since 2023, along with the boom and pushes to generative [[AI]], Google introduced AI-powered features onto the search engine, such as AI Overview and AI Mode. These features have caused several controversies and criticism either from users and publishers, highlighting these aspects:
*The inability to completely turn these AI features off from the search engine.
*{{Wplink|Hallucination (artificial intelligence)|Hallucinations}} provided by the AI that give false information to the user<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mickle|last2=Metz |last3=Freedman |last4=Mondría Terol |last5=Collins |first=Tripp |first2=Cade |first3=Dylan |first4=Teresa |first5=Keith |date=7 Apr 2026 |title=How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/r9qPK |archive-date=2026-05-16 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>, biases and potential control over shown results.
*The high energy and resource consumption and environmental impact of generative AI <ref>{{Cite web |last=Darley |first=James |date=2 Jun 2026 |title=What is the True Energy Cost of Google Search’s AI Overview? |url=https://energydigital.com/news/what-is-the-true-energy-cost-of-google-searchs-ai-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/n6f4L |archive-date=2026-06-02 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Energy Digital}}</ref>, with AI-powered searches consuming ten times more energy than a regular search.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter|first=Lucy |date=10 Jun 2026 |title=Google AI Search Uses 10x More Energy Than Standard Searches|url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/google-ai-search-uses-10x-more-energy-than-standard-searches|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/LVCis |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=Sustainability Magazine}}</ref>
*Reduction of human traffic on sites as users are no longer needing to head over links to search information, damaging site publishers as a consequence.
*Privacy concerns.{{Citation needed|date=25 May 2026}}

====AI Overview (''2023'')====
In May 2023, Google announced Search Generative Experience (SGE) for Google Search. AI Overview was released in May 2024 in the U.S.A. as an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of search results, showing an AI-generated summary of the search query.

It has been criticized for giving false information due to hallucinations that even devolved into suggesting performing harmful activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon|first=Lov |last2=Kleinman |first2=Zoe |date=24 May 2024 |title=Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008234240/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11gzejgz4o |archive-date=2024-10-08|access-date=25 May 2026 |website=BBC}}</ref>

The implementation of this feature has ended in some cases involving lawsuits due to the misinformation provided by hallucinations<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Emmy |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Minnesota Solar Company Sues Google Over AI Summary |url=https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130025033/https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/minnesota-solar-company-sues-google-over-ai-summary |archive-date=30 November 2025 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Government Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTL LED, LLC, D/B/A Wolf River Electric VS Google LLC |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722/gov.uscourts.mnd.225722.1.1.pdf |url-status=live |website=Court Listener |author=State of Minnesota, County of Ramsey |date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref> and site owners suing Google for copyright infringements and antitrust practices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meek |first=Andy |date=14 Sep 2025 |title=Why Rolling Stone Owner Penske Media Just Declared War On Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260525204725/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andymeek/2025/09/14/why-rolling-stone-owner-penske-media-just-declared-war-on-google/ |archive-date=25 May 2026 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2026, a German court made Google liable for false information and biases in the AI Overview answers. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Matthias |date=11 Jun 2026 |title=Landmark German ruling declares Google's AI Overviews are Google's own words and makes it liable for false answers |url=https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260611211438/https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/ |archive-date=2026-06-11 |access-date=11 Jun 2026 |website=The Decoder}}</ref>

In June 26, 2026, Louis Rossmann uploaded a video on YouTube showing how the AI Overview generates false claims of the youtuber having sponsorships with Ground News.<ref>https://youtu.be/u3E8OkebOqo?si=EqvPgwLvvgBXsR6o</ref>

There's no official method to completely disable AI Overview from search results. However, adding <code>-ai</code> at the end of search queries prevents the AI Overview to appear.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stimac|first=Blake |date=20 Apr 2026 |title=How to Tell Google's AI Features to Leave You Alone, Once and for All |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260524051148/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-tell-googles-ai-features-to-leave-you-alone-once-and-for-all/ |archive-date=2026-05-24 |access-date=25 May 2026 |website=CNet}}</ref> Other workarounds to disable AI overviews include searching under the Web category or adding <code>?udm=14&q</code> in the search link, after <code>https://www.google.com/search</code>and before the query name. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=20 May 2026 |title=Google’s AI Overviews Don't Have an Off Switch. 4 Tricks to Return to Traditional Web Results |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260527193918/https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/googles-ai-overviews-dont-have-off-switch-4-tricks-to-turn-them-off |archive-date=2026-05-27 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

====AI Mode (''2025'')====
AI mode is a feature announced and introduced for Google Search in April 2025 as an alternative form to the regular search. It's an AI-powered feature that operates with [[Google Gemini]], and presents a chat-like interface. Users can send prompts and queries and the AI model will search on the web the information that might be relevant for the user.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Google|date=April 2025 |title=Google AI mode - a new way to search, whatever's on your mind |url=https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408212209/https://search.google/ways-to-search/ai-mode/|archive-date=2025-04-08 |access-date=11 Jun 2026}}</ref> Like AI overview, there's no official way to disable this feature.

In 2026, Google will introduce integrated ads into AI overview and AI mode. These ads might appear in the conversations with Google's AIs with a similar appearance to a regular answer, but they contain a small "sponsored" tag at the top of the reply, something that might be hard do identify at first glance. This form of integration has raised privacy and concerns about the potential usage of AI for manipulation and potential integrations that might make nearly impossible to differentiate between content that is and isn't an ad. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins|first=Josh|date=21 May 2026|title=Google's new AI search ads are designed to look like helpful answers |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260522223816/https://www.makeuseof.com/googles-new-ai-search-will-have-ads-hidden-in-your-answers/ |archive-date=2026-05-22 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Make Use Of}}</ref>

====Additional AI integrations and pushes for AI Mode (''2026'')====
On May 19th, 2026, during the Google I/O were announced additional AI integrations for the search engine. These integrations involve modifications of the Search box and integration of Google Gemini Flash 3.5, predictive algorithms and the integration of "Search Agents", customizable AI agents dedicated to operate and search in user's behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid|first=Elizabeth |date=19 May 2026 |title=A new era for AI Search |url=https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519181835/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/#powerful-ai |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Google Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildrim |first=Ece |date=19 May 2026 |title=Google Search Is Dead. Welcome to the Era of the ‘Intelligent Search Box’ |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260519204100/https://gizmodo.com/google-search-is-dead-welcome-to-the-era-of-the-intelligent-search-box-2000760626 |archive-date=2026-05-19 |access-date=21 May 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

During that day, Google modified its UI, moving the "Web" tab, locating it under the "More" tab. This is a [[dark pattern]] made as an attempt to encourage users to use the AI features such as Overview and prevent them to use workarounds.{{Citation needed}}


The users' backlash over Google's search engine have increased the installations and visits to other alternative engines that allow to opt-out from AI features or are completely free of them, such as [[Brave|Brave Search]], [[DuckDuckGo]], [[Yahoo]] or [[Bing]]. According to DuckDuckGo, during May 20 and May 25, app installs in the US rose by 18.1%, with installs peaking at 30.5% during May 25.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Tech Desk |date=1 Jun 2026 |title=DuckDuckGo installs jump 30% amid backlash over Google AI Search |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602052445/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/duckduckgo-installs-jump-30-amid-backlash-over-google-ai-search-10715761/ |archive-date=2026-06-02|access-date=2 Jun 2026 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>

==Lawsuit==
===''United States vs. Google'' (''2020'')===

==See also==
*[[DuckDuckGo]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Google| ]]
[[Category:Products]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-19T17:06:33Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law */ source

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but for the legislation, the Chilean government is planning to use as a reference the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Santana Silva |first=Daniela |date=May 2026 |title=Responsabilidad de intermediarios en entornos digitales |trans-title=Responsibility of intermediaries in digital environments |url=https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260618174229/https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |archive-date=2026-06-18 |access-date=18 Jun 2026 |website=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional}}</ref>

Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites and applications that are social media to prevent underage users to access them. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction to access to social media without the user's petition is defined as arbitrary, and it does exactly what this law is prohibiting:
*Blocks and restricts the access of any user that is under the age of 16 or any adult that wants to access to social media but wants to keep their privacy and doesn't want to verify their age.
*It interferes and hinders the ability to access social media by applying a block that can be only removed by verifying or by finding any workaround.
*It discriminates, prohibiting the access to users under 16, any user who wants to keep their privacy and also difficulting the access for disabled or elder people that already have difficulties to use the ClaveÚnica system for statal benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario Concepción |date=18 Jun 2026 |title=Clave Única: la barrera digital que dificulta el acceso de adultos mayores a beneficios estatales |trans-title=Clave Única: the digital barrier that difficults the access of elders to statal benefits|url=https://www.tvu.cl/prensa/2026/06/18/clave-unica-la-barrera-digital-que-dificulta-el-acceso-de-adultos-mayores-a-beneficios-estatales.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/flNLI |archive-date=2026-06-19 |access-date=19 Jun 2026 |website=Televisión Universidad de Concepción}}</ref>

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:45:59Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Proposals */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but for the legislation, the Chilean government is planning to use as a reference the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Santana Silva |first=Daniela |date=May 2026 |title=Responsabilidad de intermediarios en entornos digitales |trans-title=Responsibility of intermediaries in digital environments |url=https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260618174229/https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |archive-date=2026-06-18 |access-date=18 Jun 2026 |website=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional}}</ref>

Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites and applications that are social media to prevent underage users to access them. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction to access to social media without the user's petition is defined as arbitrary, and it does exactly what this law is prohibiting:
*Blocks and restricts the access of any user that is under the age of 16 or any adult that wants to access to social media but wants to keep their privacy and doesn't want to verify their age.
*It interferes and hinders the ability to access social media by applying a block that can be only removed by verifying or by finding any workaround.
*It discriminates, prohibiting the access to users under 16, any user who wants to keep their privacy and also elders or disabled people that might have difficulties to use the ClaveÚnica system.

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:44:34Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Proposals */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but for the legislation, the Chilean government is planning to use as a reference the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Santana Silva |first=Daniela |date=May 2026 |title=Responsabilidad de intermediarios en
entornos digitales |trans-title=Responsibility of intermediaries in digital environments |url=https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260618174229/https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728 |archive-date=2026-06-18 |access-date=18 Jun 2026 |website=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional}}</ref>

Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites and applications that are social media to prevent underage users to access them. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction to access to social media without the user's petition is defined as arbitrary, and it does exactly what this law is prohibiting:
*Blocks and restricts the access of any user that is under the age of 16 or any adult that wants to access to social media but wants to keep their privacy and doesn't want to verify their age.
*It interferes and hinders the ability to access social media by applying a block that can be only removed by verifying or by finding any workaround.
*It discriminates, prohibiting the access to users under 16, any user who wants to keep their privacy and also elders or disabled people that might have difficulties to use the ClaveÚnica system.

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:35:04Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction to access to social media without the user's petition is defined as arbitrary, and it does exactly what this law is prohibiting:
*Blocks and restricts the access of any user that is under the age of 16 or any adult that wants to access to social media but wants to keep their privacy and doesn't want to verify their age.
*It interferes and hinders the ability to access social media by applying a block that can be only removed by verifying or by finding any workaround.
*It discriminates, prohibiting the access to users under 16, any user who wants to keep their privacy and also elders or disabled people that might have difficulties to use the ClaveÚnica system.

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:27:43Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction without the user's petition is defined as an arbitrary form of block, interference or even a discrimination, as this only allows a certain group of people to access to certain content (in this case being social media).

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Groups of users on [[Reddit]], specially in the r/chile subreddit, have manifested their opposition with the plan, along with concerns about privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:21:51Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction without the user's petition is defined as an arbitrary form of block, interference or even a discrimination, as this only allows a certain group of people to access to certain content (in this case being social media).

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance and control, censorship, the risks of data breaches and credential theft, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and the freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exist, and parents should be responsible to control, educate and moderate what their children do online, instead of the State.

Users on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:16:24Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Concerns */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
If the bill follows the idea of applying any kind of restriction to access social media, it might be incompatible with the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

===Incompatibility with the Chilean constitution===
According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

If the restriction to access to social media is imposed with only using ClaveÚnica for verifying age as the alternative to do so, this would result into something that might fit into a statal monopoly and as a form of censorship as well, because it blocks underage users, does not allow any adult that does not want to verify their age and controls who can and cannot access to social media, something that can be considered as social communication media.

===Incompatibility with the Net Neutrality Law===
With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction without the user's petition is defined as an arbitrary form of block, interference or even a discrimination, as this only allows a certain group of people to access to certain content (in this case being social media).

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance, censorship, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exists and parents should be responsible to control and educate their children instead of the State.

Users on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-18T17:09:33Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: created section: "Experts & politicians response"

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction without the user's petition is defined as an arbitrary form of block, interference or even a discrimination, as this only allows a certain group of people to access to certain content (in this case being social media).

==Experts & politicians response==
Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult and pretty complex to be acheived, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness.

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance, censorship, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exists and parents should be responsible to control and educate their children instead of the State.

Users on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Stop Killing Games

2026-06-18T00:48:38Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Stop Killing the Internet */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Campaign started by advocate Ross W. Scott to keep video games functional after their discontinuation.
|Founded=2024
|Industry=Video Games, Consumer Rights
|Logo=Stop killing games.jpeg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|CompanyAlias=SKG
|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
}}

'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series.

==Campaign history==
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explained the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mrglanet |author2=Relvean |author3=Mira Snelder |author4=Erasmus Magnus |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

===UK Parliament petition===
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=16 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |website=[[YouTube]] |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref>

On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

The Petition was debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, was the last speaker and provided the Government's position on the matter. The debate was adjourned without the Government having made any material changes from its view previously stated in February.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web
|last=Warren |first=Mark |title=Stop Killing Games' UK petition has been debated in parliament: "The law works, but companies may need to communicate better" |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=3 Nov 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111002946/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On 19 June 2024, "'''Stop Destroying Videogames'''" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |website=European Citizens' Initiative |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures.

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures were to be verified and validated by all state members. In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mr_Presidentle |title=Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=24 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126002806/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

====Social media coverage====
Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |website=[[YouTube]] |date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=PirateSoftware |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |website=[[YouTube]] |date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross also stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline began drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025 as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farm |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025}}</ref>

====European Union response====
On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=European Parliament |title=Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=[[YouTube]] |date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 19 May 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee had a debate about the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI to which Stop Killing Games had been invited to participate.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-uLTlQ-pA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

Following up the European Parliament public hearing from April, on 21 May 2026 the initiative was discussed in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg with participation of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 2 June 2026, Stop Killing Games released a public statement regarding the European Commission's upcoming response and the invitation-only hearing with Video Games Europe and EGDF happening on 3 June 2026, highlighting concerns regarding the lack of solutions coming from the Commission and the echoing of the lobbying statements from the industry that misrepresent the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Spagelo |title=SKG - Letter to the community... |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=2 Jun 2026 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602192642/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |archive-date=2 Jun 2026}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - Open Letter">
File:SKG_Open_Letter_1.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_2.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_3.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_4.webp|
File:SKG_open_letter_2026-June-03.pdf|Official .pdf version
</gallery>

On 9 June 2026 the Parliament has shown a clear commitment to act and willingness to work on solutions, a cross-party group of MEPs has issued a call for legislation in a letter to the European Commission.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=“It’s Game Over for This Abusive Practice”-Parliament Backs Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=9 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610083637/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - MEPs call for legislation">
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 1.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 2.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action.pdf|.pdf version
</gallery>

On 16 June 2026 the European Commission released their official response<ref>{{cite web |author=European Commission |title=Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens' Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers |date=16 Jun 2026 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1369 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KRVXH |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |title=COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ |author=European Commission |date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260616141719/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |archive-date=2026-06-16}}</ref> on the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI deciding to not move forward with a new legislative proposal. The Stop Killing Games movement has Parliament support from every side of the political spectrum, regardless of the support from the Commission, and in the follow-up press conference<ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtu.be/pMFlQAbo4tI |title=Stop Killing Games: Press Conference (after the EC answer to our ECI) |author=Stop Killing Games |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[YouTube]] |url-status=live}}</ref> by Stop Killing Games it has been stated that the Stop Destroying Videogames movement will be amended to the [[Digital Fairness Act]].

<gallery>
File:C 2026 4110 EN.pdf|European Commission communication
</gallery>

The movement will continue the pushback against the industry in various ways through the [[Protect Our Games Act]], own-initiative report by the European Parliament, adoption of the POG Act as legislation suitable for the European Union, determine which existing legislation proposals should be targeted and continued work in other legal jurisdictions such the UK.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The fight goes on |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |url-status=live |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260617091023/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref>

===California's Protect Our Games Act===
{{Excerpt|Protect Our Games Act}}

==Industry push back==
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today.

<gallery>
VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games.pdf|VGE Position on Stop Killing Games
</gallery>

On 10 July 2025, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|commented on the campaign]] during an investor meeting:
<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote>

On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution</blockquote>

In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref>

<gallery>
250711SDVG_Complaint-1.pdf|The file of the accusations
</gallery>

On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=11 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9VefS |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}

There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of ''{{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}}'' in February.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |website=Team Fortress |date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |website=BitSkins |date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles|classic Command & Conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==Stop Killing the Internet==
{{Main|Stop Killing the Internet}}
Stop Killing the Internet is a sister campaign targeted to spread awareness about internet censorship, age-gating and online surveillance. This campaign will launch on June 2026.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Video games]]

===Video game stores===
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Itch.io]]
*[[Xbox]]

===Video game publishers===
*[[Valve]]
*[[Electronic Arts]]
*[[Activision Blizzard]]
*[[Sony]]
*[[Ubisoft]]
*[[Microsoft]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/ Stop Killing Games Wiki]
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/wiki/Dead_game_list Dead game list]

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:European Union]]

Stop Killing Games

2026-06-18T00:47:26Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: Section: Stop Killing the Internet

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Campaign started by advocate Ross W. Scott to keep video games functional after their discontinuation.
|Founded=2024
|Industry=Video Games, Consumer Rights
|Logo=Stop killing games.jpeg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=
|CompanyAlias=SKG
|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
}}

'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series.

==Campaign history==
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explained the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mrglanet |author2=Relvean |author3=Mira Snelder |author4=Erasmus Magnus |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

===UK Parliament petition===
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=16 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref>

On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |website=[[YouTube]] |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref>

On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

The Petition was debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, was the last speaker and provided the Government's position on the matter. The debate was adjourned without the Government having made any material changes from its view previously stated in February.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web
|last=Warren |first=Mark |title=Stop Killing Games' UK petition has been debated in parliament: "The law works, but companies may need to communicate better" |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=3 Nov 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111002946/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stop-killing-games-uk-petition-has-been-debated-in-parliament-the-law-works-but-companies-may-need-to-communicate-better |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On 19 June 2024, "'''Stop Destroying Videogames'''" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |website=European Citizens' Initiative |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures.

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended 1 August 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures were to be verified and validated by all state members. In an announcement from the initiative campaigners on 24 January 2026, the final count of verified signatures was 1,294,188.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mr_Presidentle |title=Stop Killing Games: Final Count of Verified Signatures of the European Citizens Initiative |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=24 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260126002806/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1qluxts/stop_killing_games_final_count_of_verified/ |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref>

====Social media coverage====
Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |website=[[YouTube]] |date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=PirateSoftware |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |website=[[YouTube]] |date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross also stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline began drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025 as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farm |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025}}</ref>

====European Union response====
On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=European Parliament |title=Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=[[YouTube]] |date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 19 May 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee had a debate about the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI to which Stop Killing Games had been invited to participate.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-uLTlQ-pA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live
|archive-url= 
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

Following up the European Parliament public hearing from April, on 21 May 2026 the initiative was discussed in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg with participation of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref>

On 2 June 2026, Stop Killing Games released a public statement regarding the European Commission's upcoming response and the invitation-only hearing with Video Games Europe and EGDF happening on 3 June 2026, highlighting concerns regarding the lack of solutions coming from the Commission and the echoing of the lobbying statements from the industry that misrepresent the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Spagelo |title=SKG - Letter to the community... |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=2 Jun 2026 |access-date=2 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260602192642/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1tuz5qu/skg_letter_to_the_community/ |archive-date=2 Jun 2026}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - Open Letter">
File:SKG_Open_Letter_1.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_2.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_3.webp|
File:SKG_Open_Letter_4.webp|
File:SKG_open_letter_2026-June-03.pdf|Official .pdf version
</gallery>

On 9 June 2026 the Parliament has shown a clear commitment to act and willingness to work on solutions, a cross-party group of MEPs has issued a call for legislation in a letter to the European Commission.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=“It’s Game Over for This Abusive Practice”-Parliament Backs Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=9 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260610083637/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u11voc/its_game_over_for_this_abusive_practiceparliament/ |archive-date=2026-06-10}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" caption="Stop Killing Games - MEPs call for legislation">
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 1.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action - page 2.png|
File:MEPs call for legislative action.pdf|.pdf version
</gallery>

On 16 June 2026 the European Commission released their official response<ref>{{cite web |author=European Commission |title=Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens' Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers |date=16 Jun 2026 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1369 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KRVXH |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |title=COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’ |author=European Commission |date=16 Jun 2026 |url-status=live |website=Europa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260616141719/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/document/download/75d642bc-6ff5-4713-b1cf-14f4aaf15869_en?filename=C_2026_4110_EN.pdf |archive-date=2026-06-16}}</ref> on the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI deciding to not move forward with a new legislative proposal. The Stop Killing Games movement has Parliament support from every side of the political spectrum, regardless of the support from the Commission, and in the follow-up press conference<ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtu.be/pMFlQAbo4tI |title=Stop Killing Games: Press Conference (after the EC answer to our ECI) |author=Stop Killing Games |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[YouTube]] |url-status=live}}</ref> by Stop Killing Games it has been stated that the Stop Destroying Videogames movement will be amended to the [[Digital Fairness Act]].

<gallery>
File:C 2026 4110 EN.pdf|European Commission communication
</gallery>

The movement will continue the pushback against the industry in various ways through the [[Protect Our Games Act]], own-initiative report by the European Parliament, adoption of the POG Act as legislation suitable for the European Union, determine which existing legislation proposals should be targeted and continued work in other legal jurisdictions such the UK.<ref>{{cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The fight goes on |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |url-status=live |date=16 Jun 2026 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260617091023/https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1u7kvyb/the_fight_goes_on/ |archive-date=2026-06-17}}</ref>

===California's Protect Our Games Act===
{{Excerpt|Protect Our Games Act}}

==Industry push back==
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today.

<gallery>
VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games.pdf|VGE Position on Stop Killing Games
</gallery>

On 10 July 2025, Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|commented on the campaign]] during an investor meeting:
<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote>

On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution</blockquote>

In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref>

<gallery>
250711SDVG_Complaint-1.pdf|The file of the accusations
</gallery>

On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=11 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9VefS |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026.

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}

There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of ''{{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}}'' in February.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |website=Team Fortress |date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |website=BitSkins |date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic Command & Conquer titles|classic Command & Conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==Stop Killing the Internet==
{{Main|Stop Killing the Internet}}
Stop Killing the Internet is a sister campaign targeted to spread awareness about internet censorship, age-gating and online surveillance. This campaign will launch June 2026.
==See also==
*[[:Category:Video games]]

===Video game stores===
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Steam]]
*[[Itch.io]]
*[[Xbox]]

===Video game publishers===
*[[Valve]]
*[[Electronic Arts]]
*[[Activision Blizzard]]
*[[Sony]]
*[[Ubisoft]]
*[[Microsoft]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/ Stop Killing Games Wiki]
*[https://stopkillinggames.wiki.gg/wiki/Dead_game_list Dead game list]

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]
[[Category:European Union]]

Free software movement

2026-06-17T02:27:06Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Examples */

{{StubNotice}}

The '''Free Software Movement''' is a movement that aims to create and distribute software that is ''free'' in all sense of the word, not just monetarily. The movement was formally initiated by [[Richard Stallman]] in 1983 with the creation of the [[GNU Project]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=1983 |title=Initial Announcement |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124140738/https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==How it works==
{{See also|right to own}}

Creating free software means creating software that ''"the user has the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve [...]."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=The GNU project |date=2024-01-01 |title=What is free software ? |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128112500/http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> This means that the source code must be available. This is in contrast with most commercial software that hides its real mechanisms from the user.

==Why it is beneficial==
===Security and user control===
{{See also|Security}}
By making software free in all sense of the word, including the freedom to study the source code, GNU creates trust in software that abides by these rules. Trust that the software does not spy on you, trust that the software will never stop working for monetary reasons, trust that the user will always be in control, instead of a corporation.

===Alternatives to proprietary software===
Free and Open Source Software can work as alternatives that are similar or even better than their corporative counterparts. Because they're free, this also makes them an affordable alternative to proprietary software that usually must be paid to be used.

===Transparency and freedom to edit the source code===
Due to their open nature, anyone can take the source code from a free software and modify it at their needs, without receiving any kind of penalty from it, contrary to what happens with proprietary software that might contain [[DRM]]. Also, the ability to completely see the source code allows the user to see what's under the hood of the software and know how it works.

===Role on legacy hardware/software preservation===
Several FOSS projects target to preserve and make legacy files and content from discontinued software to work and be used again, such as Ruffle extension allowing to run Flash content on web browsers after Adobe ceased its support in 2020. FOSS operating systems or firmware can make a device to work again after the proprietary software is no longer supported, extending more the device's lifespan, allowing to spare money and helping the environment by preventing to create unnecessary e-waste.

==Examples==

* [[wikipedia:Linux|GNU+Linux]] operating systems
* {{Wplink|Blender (software)|Blender}}, software for 3D modelling
* {{Wplink|VLC media player}}
* {{Wplink|LibreWolf}}, privacy-focused fork of [[Mozilla Firefox]]

==References==

[[Category:Copyright]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

<references />

Free software movement

2026-06-17T02:11:33Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Why it is beneficial */

{{StubNotice}}

The '''Free Software Movement''' is a movement that aims to create and distribute software that is ''free'' in all sense of the word, not just monetarily. The movement was formally initiated by [[Richard Stallman]] in 1983 with the creation of the [[GNU Project]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |date=1983 |title=Initial Announcement |url=https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124140738/https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>

==How it works==
{{See also|right to own}}

Creating free software means creating software that ''"the user has the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve [...]."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=The GNU project |date=2024-01-01 |title=What is free software ? |url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128112500/http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> This means that the source code must be available. This is in contrast with most commercial software that hides its real mechanisms from the user.

==Why it is beneficial==
===Security and user control===
{{See also|Security}}
By making software free in all sense of the word, including the freedom to study the source code, GNU creates trust in software that abides by these rules. Trust that the software does not spy on you, trust that the software will never stop working for monetary reasons, trust that the user will always be in control, instead of a corporation.

===Alternatives to proprietary software===
Free and Open Source Software can work as alternatives that are similar or even better than their corporative counterparts. Because they're free, this also makes them an affordable alternative to proprietary software that usually must be paid to be used.

===Transparency and freedom to edit the source code===
Due to their open nature, anyone can take the source code from a free software and modify it at their needs, without receiving any kind of penalty from it, contrary to what happens with proprietary software that might contain [[DRM]]. Also, the ability to completely see the source code allows the user to see what's under the hood of the software and know how it works.

===Role on legacy hardware/software preservation===
Several FOSS projects target to preserve and make legacy files and content from discontinued software to work and be used again, such as Ruffle extension allowing to run Flash content on web browsers after Adobe ceased its support in 2020. FOSS operating systems or firmware can make a device to work again after the proprietary software is no longer supported, extending more the device's lifespan, allowing to spare money and helping the environment by preventing to create unnecessary e-waste.

==Examples==

* [[wikipedia:Linux|GNU+Linux]]

==References==

[[Category:Copyright]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

<references />

User:ClippyWantsToHelp

2026-06-16T06:26:43Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

I edit and create articles when I have free time or when I want to.

==Pages in my user space==
*[[User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS|Page in Spanish For Chileans to explain the issues with social media bans and age verification]]

==Articles I created==

===Companies===
*[[Micron]]

===Products/Services===
*[[ChatGPT]]
*[[ChatGPT-4o]]
*[[Claude]]
*[[Crunchyroll]]
*[[DeepSeek]]
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Google Drive]]
*[[Google Search]]

===Common terms===
*[[Dynamic pricing]]
*[[Pay-walling]]
*[[Personalized ads]]
*[[Shadow-banning]]

===Incidents===
*[[Apple introduces OS-level age verification]]
*[[Micron retires Crucial products from consumer business]]

===Legislations===
*[[Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos]]
*[[Ley de Protección de Datos Personales]]
*[[Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros]]
*[[Ley de Neutralidad de Red]]

Net Neutrality Law

2026-06-16T06:26:06Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Stub}}
The [[wikipedia:Net_neutrality_in_Chile|'''Net Neutrality Law''']], ('''Ley de Neutralidad de Red''' in Spanish), also known as the '''Law N° 20,453''', is a Chilean legislation that promotes the net neutrality, a principle that prevents Internet and online application providers to arbitrarily include any form of block or restriction to the internet content without the user's request and to limit or restrict the control over a user's internet device. It promotes user privacy, the enforcement of parental controls for users who request it and principles of transparency of the internet service that is provided

==The Law==
Enacted on August 18, 2010 and then published on August 26, 2010 the Net Neutrality Law is known as the very first law on the world to promote the net neutrality principle.

==Core Principles==
The law is built on four main principles that telecommunications dealers and entities or people who offer services of connectivity and communication between users, consisting on the following:
*1. They cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.
*2. They cannot limit the rights from a user to incorporate any kind of instruments or devices on the network, as always they're legal and are not damaging the network quality or service.
*3. They must offer, at the cost of users who request it, to offer parental control services for content that is against the law, practices or morals, always notifying the user in advance with also precisely informing the capacities of these services.
*4.They must publish on their website all relative information related to the offered Internet access, its speed, network quality (highlighting national and international connection differences), and the nature and warranties of the service.
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
==Impact==
This legislation sets the pillar for preventing the online censorship and the right for consumers about network service transparencies and control over the services they're paying for.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-16T06:24:57Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Concerns */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

With the Net Neutrality Law, there's a conflict with the first dictated core principle of this legislation, that states network services or applications that offer connectivity or communication between users cannot arbitrarily block, interfere, discriminate, hinder, nor restrict the right of any Internet user to use, send, receive or offer any legal content through Internet, including any legal activity or usage done trough the network.

The imposition of a restriction without the user's petition is defined as an arbitrary form of block, interference or even a discrimination, as this only allows a certain group of people to access to certain content (in this case being social media).

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness. Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity. Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance, censorship, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exists and parents should be responsible to control and educate their children instead of the State.

Users on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Ley de Neutralidad de Red

2026-06-16T06:20:23Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: Redirected page to Net Neutrality Law

#REDIRECT [[Net Neutrality Law]]

Net Neutrality Law

2026-06-16T06:19:05Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

Net Neutrality Law

2026-06-16T05:49:25Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: Created page with "{{Stub}} The Net Neutrality Law, (Ley de Neutralidad de Red in Spanish), also known as the Law N° 20,453, is a Chilean legislation that promotes the net neutrality, a principle that prevents Internet and online application providers to arbitrarily include any form of block or restriction to the internet content without the user's request and to limit or restrict the control over a user's internet device. It promotes user privacy, the enforcement of parental controls for..."

{{Stub}}
The Net Neutrality Law, (Ley de Neutralidad de Red in Spanish), also known as the Law N° 20,453, is a Chilean legislation that promotes the net neutrality, a principle that prevents Internet and online application providers to arbitrarily include any form of block or restriction to the internet content without the user's request and to limit or restrict the control over a user's internet device. It promotes user privacy, the enforcement of parental controls for users who request it and principles of transparency of the internet service that is provided

==The Law==

==Core Principles==

==Impact==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]
[[Category:Pro-Consumer legislation]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-16T00:19:09Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness. Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity. Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

Several users in social media have manifested their concerns involving the possibility the system is used for surveillance, censorship, the erosion of consumer rights and the right of privacy, and freedom to access to information on the net. Some users also have higlighted the parental controls exists and parents should be responsible to control and educate their children instead of the State.

Users on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-16T00:04:41Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */ typo

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

The possibility that a statal system is controlling the internet services to add age verification measurements, erodes consumer rights over a service they're paying for, restricting the control of the user over the service and their freedom to navigate the net.

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness. Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity. Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rights of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

Several users in social media, specially on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-15T23:56:28Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */ twitter citations

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

The possibility that a statal system is controlling the internet services to add age verification measurements, erodes consumer rights over a service they're paying for, restricting the control of the user over the service and their freedom to navigate the net.

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness. Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity. Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rigths of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0842-38/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2066635492867670422]</ref><ref>https://x.com/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464 - [Archived https://megalodon.jp/2026-0616-0855-02/https://x.com:443/Jou_Kaiser/status/2065970495938306464]</ref>

Several users in social media, specially on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-15T23:26:06Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */

{{Stub}}
'''The Safe Digital Environments Law''' (in Spanish: Ley de Entornos Digitales Seguros) is a proposed legislation in Chile for banning users under the age of 16 from social media.

==Background==
With many countries establishing social media bans for minors, such as Malaysia with the [[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]], Australia and the [[European Union]] proposing to do the same, the Chilean government announced in April 2026 the Safe Digital Environments plan to ban users under 16 from social media. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palazzo |first=Mauricio |date=27 Apr 2026 |title=Chile busca limitar el acceso en redes sociales a menores de 16 años |trans-title=Chile seeks to limit the access to social media to minors under 16 |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428113209/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2026/04/27/chile-busca-limitar-el-acceso-en-redes-sociales-a-menores-de-16-anos/ |archive-date=2026-04-28 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Infobae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Macarena |date=26 Apr 2026|title="Plan Entornos Digitales Seguros": Ministerio del Desarrollo Social presentará proyecto para restringir redes sociales a menores |trans-title="Safe Digital Environments Plan": Social Development Ministry will present project for restricting social media to minors |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613001223/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/plan-entornos-digitales-seguros-ministerio-del-desarrollo-social-presentara-pro-26-4-2026 |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Tele 13}}</ref>

==Proposals==
There's no published bill yet, but proposals for the legislations that have been pushed on Brazil, Australia, France, Spain and the European Union. Mentioned proposals from the ministry point to add mandatory [[age verification]] to sites that are social media to prevent underage users to access to these sites. The Social Development & Family Minister, María Jesús Wulf, mentioned there are plans of adding age verification systems implementing the national [[digital ID]], ClaveÚnica, in order to access to social media. Proposals also include to add home and school capacitations to teach about the risks of the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Edición El América.cl|date=25 May 2026|title=Para proteger a tus hijos en internet: Así es el Plan Nacional de Entornos Digitales Seguros |trans-title=To protect your children in internet: This is the National Plan of Safe Digital Environments |url=https://elamerica.cl/2026/05/25/para-proteger-a-tus-hijos-en-internet-asi-es-el-plan-nacional-de-entornos-digitales-seguros/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/bdYS3 |archive-date=2026-06-12 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=El América}}</ref>

==Concerns==
This legislation project might be incompatible with aspects from the Chilean constitution and the [[Net Neutrality Law]]

According to the Chapter III, Article 19, section 12 of the Chilean Politic Constitution of the Republic, that mentions constitutional rights and duties:<ref>https://www.camara.cl/camara/doc/leyes_normas/constitucion.pdf</ref>
{{Quote |12°. The freedom to emit opinion and informing, without previous censorship, in any form and in any media, without the prejudice to respond to crimes and abuse that are commited in the excercise of these liberties in conformity to the law, that must be qualified quorum.

The law cannot in any case to establish a statal monopoly over social communication media.
}}

The potential imposition of ClaveÚnica to the network services as the only method of age verification can be considered as a statal monopoly, and the prohibition of access to minors to access to social media can be considered as a form of censorship because it potentially can block minors or adults that do not want to verify to access to information in social media.

The possibility that a statal system is controlling the internet services to add age verification measurements, erodes consumer rights over a service they're paying for, restricting the control of the user over the service and their freedom to navigate the net.

==Consumer response==
The legislation project has received mixed responses and generated a broad debate in media, with some users approving it and other rejecting and critizicing its effectiveness. Experts claim the possibility to implement such age verification systems in the country is something difficult, along with the implementation of ClaveÚnica as the method of age verification raises privacy concerns as the statal system is tied with a person's identity. Johannes Kaiser, representative of the National Libertarian Party (PNL) responded claiming the addition of these restrictions are violating the rigths of privacy and freedom and granting the State to surveil Chileans on the net.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campos |first=Sofía|date=15 Jun 2026 |title=¿Más protección o vulneración de derechos? Uso de ClaveÚnica para redes sociales de menores abre debate entre expertos |trans-title=More protection or rights vulneration? Usage of ClaveÚnica for social media for minors opens debate amongst experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615231935/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/15/1202874/clave-unica-redes-sociales-menores.html |archive-date=2026-06-15|access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=apellido |first=nombre |date=13 Jun 2026 |title=¿Ingreso de menores a RR.SS. mediante Clave Única?: La idea del Gobierno que abrió debate entre expertos |trans-title=Minors accessing to social media using Clave Única?: The Government's idea that opened a debate among experts |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260615232402/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2026/06/13/1202730/redes-sociales-clave-unica-mideso.html |archive-date=2026-06-15 |access-date=15 Jun 2026 |website=Emol}}</ref>

Several users in social media, specially on [[Reddit]], in the r/chile subreddit have manifested their concerns with privacy, risks of data breaches, censorship concerns and concerns about the potential expansion of the ban to more sites of the internet, as the project is looking to follow similar international legislations. Some users have also highlighted the incompatibility of the project with the Net Neutrality Law, an established law that prevents telecommunication services to arbitrarily block, interfere or restrict the access to legal content online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=|title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded possible age control on social media trough ClaveÚnica: what it is known for now|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613010140/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1u42z0z/ministra_wulf_adelant%C3%B3_posible_control_de_edad_en/?solution=dfc06a2675df1461dfc06a2675df1461&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec1b5c0be6faef3a5c8e49a1e48c0baeb3&jsc_orig_r=|archive-date=2026-06-13|access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2026 |title=Ya chiquillos. Es hora de detener el AGE CHECK juntos. |trans-title=Ok guys, it's time to stop the AGE CHECK together. |url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011035/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t6qrh9/ya_chiquillos_es_hora_de_deterner_el_age_check/?solution=84b9d3b4a9161dc484b9d3b4a9161dc4&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecf85b607bd3e42b2d71525a281a8ace07&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Chile copia a Inglaterra la ley "Online Safety Act" de Reino unido , creando la censura total de internet, esta ley es la de mayor alcance desde que existe internet en chile. ellos dicen textualmente que es una copia exacta de la ley inglesa
|trans-title=Chile copies England's "Online Safety Act" from the United Kingdom, creating the total censorship of the internet, this legislation has the highest range since internet exists in Chile. They textually say it is an exact copy of the English law|url=https://www.old.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613011648/https://www.reddit.com/r/chile/comments/1t5zw1i/chile_copia_a_inglaterra_la_ley_online_safety_act/?solution=791394e963b74d25791394e963b74d25&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ecdb3b2d2330a3a48f4a53367a500b543e&jsc_orig_r= |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

==Government response==
According to María Jesús Wulf, the bill has ''"no objective to limit or restrict childrens' own liberties and rights, but protecting them from harassment and harmful influences online"''. Also she claims the implementations of ClaveÚnica are only "to verify age and not identity".<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Diario el Día |date=12 Jun 2026|title="ClaveÚnica en redes": Gobierno evalúa verificar edad de menores |trans-title="Claveúnica in media": Government evaluates to verify age of minors |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613003910/https://www.diarioeldia.cl/noticias/2026/06/12/141022-clavenica-en-redes-gobierno-evalua-verificar-edad-de-menores |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Bárbara |date=12 Jun 2026 |title=Ministra Wulf adelantó posible control de edad en RRSS a través de ClaveÚnica: qué se sabe hasta ahora |trans-title=Minister Wulf forwarded a possible age control in social media trough ClaveÚnica: what is known for now|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260613004455/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/bbcl-explica/bbcl-explica-notas/2026/06/12/ministra-wulf-adelanto-posible-control-de-edad-en-rrss-a-traves-de-claveunica-que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora.shtml |archive-date=2026-06-13 |access-date=12 Jun 2026 |website=Bío Bío Chile}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Chilean legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation in South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]

Advertising overload

2026-06-15T15:38:30Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* YouTube */ link to SponsorBlock

{{Cleanup|Issue 1 = Clean up, update, and standardize citations (see [[Template:Cite web]]).}}
Advertising overload refers to the practice of not only integrating advertising as a source of revenue in software and websites, but also increasing the number of ads within platforms that consumers use. This has increasingly caused inconvenience to consumers. A commonly cited issue is the ever-increasing length of unskippable ads, which are forcibly shown even to people who need to watch CPR videos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Luke |date=5 Jun 2023 |title=YouTube is playing three-minute-long adverts before FIRST AID videos — and they've already been linked to at least one death |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709000810/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |archive-date=9 Jul 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |work=Daily Mail}}</ref>

==Applications in industries==
===Operating systems===
Operating systems have been experiencing advertising overload, most notably the large market lead [[Windows]]. [[Activision Blizzard|King]]'s Candy Crush frequently comes pre-installed on [[Windows]] 10 operating systems, without consumer consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscaritolo |first=Angela |date=15 May 2025 |title=Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=PCMag |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130100032/https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> Microsoft Solitaire Collection, a mainstay title for Windows devices, has had unnecessary ads inserted into the software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2020 |title=Unwanted ads in solitaire collection |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Aug 2024 |title=How to stop ads on Microsoft Solitaire collection? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Games Learning Society |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508004832/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |archive-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Users who purchased Windows 10+ licenses have reported a progressively increasing number of ads within the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=28 Feb 2021 |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=How-To Geek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125093825/https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=21 Oct 2024 |title=How to Get Rid of the Ads and Other Shortcomings in Windows 11 |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Consumer Reports |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723174357/https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2023 |title=Every time I login to my PC a screen advertising Game Pass appears. How do I stop this? |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174703/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> Windows 10 additionally has pop-ups that frequently prompt legacy users to purchase Windows 11-supported hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Kate |date=21 Nov 2024 |title=Microsoft Pushes Copilot+ PCs on Windows 10 Users With Pop-Up Ads |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2024 |website=PCMag |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126125054/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |archive-date=26 Jan 2025}}</ref> While it is possible to disable this pop-up via registry editing in Win 10 Pro edition,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stagg |first=Dave |date=Feb 14, 2022 |title=How to disable the Windows 11 Upgrade prompt |url=https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Endpoint Focus |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130215921/https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> the registries that are changed with this method are the ones which handle receiving any update, including security updates.

Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roku Advertising |url=https://advertising.roku.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260201023014/https://advertising.roku.com/ |archive-date=2026-02-01 |website=[[Roku]]}}</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire TV |url=https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215085117/https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |archive-date=2025-12-15 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.
[[File:Fire TV ads.png|thumb|A screenshot of the home screen for an Amazon Fire TV]]
[[File:Xbox One Dashboard.jpg|thumb|The Xbox One dashboard as of 2022]]
Users of [[Xbox]] One/Series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=26 Jul 2023 |title=New Xbox Dashboard Looks Great, Still Has Too Many Ads |url=https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725071633/https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |archive-date=25 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Micheals |first=Steve |date=22 Jan 2024 |title=Xbox Gamers Not Happy About Full-Screen Ads |url=https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |url-status=dead |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=GameRant |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724143350/https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> and [[PlayStation]] 4/5 consoles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=30 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 Homescreen Now Replaces Unique Video Game Art With Annoying Ads You Can’t Turn Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=IGN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722001903/https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |archive-date=22 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=PlayStation Blames PS5 Dashboard Ads On "Tech Error" |url=https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241005041024/https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |archive-date=5 Oct 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Co |first=Alex |date=29 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 New UI Update Also Brought Ads You Can’t Turn Off and Unwanted Forced News Feed to Select Titles |url=https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=MP1ST |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174701/https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> have been receiving ads on the home screens of their systems for over a decade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Xbox One Dashboard Ads |url=https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/xbox-one-dashboard-ads |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260303054040/https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/xbox-one-dashboard-ads |archive-date=2026-03-03 |website=ar.inspiredpencil.com}}</ref> This practice dates back to the 7th console generation, such as on the [[Xbox]] 360.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-20 |title=The ads finally were removed from the Xbox 360 dashboard |url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/the-ads-finally-were-removed-from-the-xbox-360-dashboard.1549854/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ZExyD |archive-date=2026-03-09 |website=NeoGAF}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Low-quality source}}

===Streaming services===
In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New streaming services like IMDb TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, Freedive<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=
Amazon’s IMDb launches a free streaming service, Freedive |website=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazons-imdb-launches-a-free-streaming-service-freedive/ |url-status=live |date=10 Jan 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114025023/https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazons-imdb-launches-a-free-streaming-service-freedive/ |archive-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> and The Roku Channel (2017)<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=Roku launches its own channel featuring free, ad-supported movies |website=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/06/roku-launches-its-own-channel-featuring-free-ad-supported-movies/ |url-status=live |date=6 Sep 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120121726/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/06/roku-launches-its-own-channel-featuring-free-ad-supported-movies/ |archive-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> respectively, with the caveat of ads. This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |author= |title=Ads on Netflix |url=https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 |website=[[Netflix]] |date= |access-date=24 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128131131/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Statista |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=9meters |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Fast Company |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.

These ad-free tiers additionally are increasing in price,<ref name=":2" /> so it often forces consumers who are disinterested in alternative means to either pay an excessive amount of money to watch their favorite media, or be barraged by increasing ads.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


===Traditional gaming===
While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as [[Call of Duty]] and [[Fortnite]]. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase the products that are being promoted that day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=u/Character-Acrobatic |date=Jun 16, 2024 |title=Stop advertising inside the game |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=reddit |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250118135659/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=Nov 3, 2023 |title=Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Has A Full-Screen Ad That Some People Don't Like |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211104346/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> Additionally, killcams in Call of Duty have seen ads as well.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aguilar |first=Jorge A. |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Call of Duty Brings Advertisements to Player Killcams |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=How to Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207081717/https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> 

[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powering brand connections in gaming |url=https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/solutions/technology/gaming-solutions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ |archive-date=2026-01-03 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Media Shark |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=aDOtat |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Abios |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Ad Exchanger |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Anzu NBCUniversal partnership in Trackmania.jpg|thumb|In-game ads in Trackmania.]]
Some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Huzaifa |date=24 Nov 2023 |title=Ubisoft Cites “Technical Error” For Recent In-Game Pop-Up Fiasco |url=https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Exputer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206085537/https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get rid of GTA Online ads on loading screens |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210127195925/https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2021}}</ref> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Mar 2023 |title=Why am I constantly having game app ads popping up even when I'm not playing games? |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115063953/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |archive-date=15 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2023 |title=Game ads keep popping up every 15-30 seconds! |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Amazon Forum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174714/https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on.
<gallery>
File:CoD in-game ads example.jpg|Cod MW3 - Ad in-game marketing the premium version.
File:Fortnite in-game T-Mobile ad.webp|Fortnite - Ad marketing T-Mobile.
</gallery>

====Advergaming====
{{Main|Advergames}}
While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivetti |first=Justin |title=The Game Archaeologist: McDonalds’ McWorld MMO is a thing that existed |url=https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ |website=Massively Overpowered |date=23 May 2020 |access-date=24 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005215/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anti-consumer practices, often to the detriment of young children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=27 Jan 2023 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 May 2026}}</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=CNN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Slate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bains |first=Callum |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212500/https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chantelle |date=4 Jun 2024 |title=Ikea is Hiring 10 Roblox Players to Work at In-Game Store |url=https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Time |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723195409/https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Charles |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Is Dining in the Metaverse Real? Brands Seem to Think So |url=https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Localogy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174722/https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=22 Apr 2022 |title=Roblox is ‘exploiting’ users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210010651/https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.

===Mobile gaming===
A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=GamingonPhone |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=AFKGaming |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ThePittNews |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161555/https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Android Police |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Major software distribution platforms, such as the Google Play store or the iOS App Store, often allow this behavior<ref name=":4" /> to persist from app developers, even featuring these ad-heavy games.

===Social media===
Social media has become a fundamental part of the advertising world, thanks to the ease with which targeted audiences can be reached based on their interests. There are various types of advertising that users encounter when using all major social media platforms.

====Native ads (In-feed ads)====
Native ads are designed to blend seamlessly into the rest of the feed, mimicking its appearance. They are generally more engaging and lead to stronger brand identification among consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Apr 2015 |title=Ad Effectiveness Study: Native Ads Vs Banner Ads |url=https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Sharethrough |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215071950/https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> Native ads are distinguishable from organic content by the label “sponsored,” often written in very small text. As highlighted by Dr. Bartosz W. Wojdynski’s research,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wojdynski |first=Bartosz W. |date=Jul 2016 |title=The Deceptiveness of Sponsored News Articles: How Readers Recognize and Perceive Native Advertising |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230129003538/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |archive-date=29 Jan 2023}}</ref> native ads can easily be misleading. In fact, 68% of participants in his study failed to distinguish them from organic content. Therefore, it is crucial that these ads do not come across as deceptive. The [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] follows these three principles:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[FTC]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103230211/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref><blockquote>
#'''Transparency is key''': An advertisement or promotional message should not suggest or imply to consumers that it is anything other than an ad.
#'''Clarity of commercial intent''': Some native ads may be so clearly commercial in nature that they are unlikely to mislead consumers even without a specific disclosure. In other cases, a disclosure may be necessary to ensure consumers understand the content is advertising.
#'''Clear and prominent disclosures''': If a disclosure is necessary to prevent deception, it must be clear and prominent.
</blockquote>
====Video Ads====
Video ads are among the most common forms of advertising on social media. They can appear either as standalone content or be inserted at the beginning, end, or middle of another video. Shorter, skippable, and non-intrusively placed ads perform better, as they respect user autonomy. [[Personalized ads |Targeted ads]] are more likely to capture interest. As with other ad formats, transparency is crucial here as well, ensuring that the ad is not perceived as intrusive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishnan |first=S. Shunmuga |last2=Sitaraman |first2=Ramesh K. |title=Understanding the Effectiveness of Video Ads: A Measurement Study |url=https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240722060725/https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |archive-date=22 Jul 2024}}</ref>

====Stories Ads====
Ads that appear in Stories are full-screen, vertical, and often feature interactive elements like swipe-up links, polls, or countdowns. They expire after 24 hours, giving them an ephemeral nature. Story ads are better perceived when they are creative, non-intrusive, and relevant to users' interests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahatmavidya |first=P.A. |last2=Kerti Yasa |first2=Ni Nyoman |date=Mar 2020 |title=ADVERTISING VALUE OF INSTAGRAM STORIES AND THE EFFECT ON MILLENNIAL’S ATTITUDE |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL%27S_ATTITUDE |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231126232406/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL'S_ATTITUDE |archive-date=26 Nov 2023}}</ref>

====Influencer marketing====
Influencer marketing is a type of advertising in which brands team up with social media personalities, also known as influencers, to promote a product or service.

Most of these influencers have built a credible standing among a large and engaged following. Brands use brand deals to leverage the influencers' credibility and relatibility and reach audiences in ways that feel far more authentic than traditional advertising.

Users are more influenced by social media personalities who share their values and lifestyles. Consequently, authenticity, trustworthiness, and relevance are the key drivers of consumer behavior. Thus, when influencers share real-life experiences of using a product or service, their recommendations are more likely to resonate with followers and result in higher levels of engagement and purchase intent.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anjali |date=Jun 2020 |title=Influencer Marketing: An Exploratory Study to Identify Antecedents of Consumer Behavior of Millennial |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230506202540/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |archive-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

Congruence—the match between the persona of the influencer, the product they are promoting, and the interests of the audience—is crucial. When the fit among these elements is strong it makes the campaign appear more genuine, and therefore more credible. Strong congruence will improve the credibility of an influencer, and create a stronger emotional relationship with the audience.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Belanche |first=Daniel |last2=Ibáñez Sánchez |first2=Sergio |last3=Casaló Ariño |first3=Luis Vicente |last4=Flavián |first4=Marta |date=Apr 2021 |title=Understanding influencer marketing: The role of congruence between influencers, products and consumers |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225102404/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |archive-date=25 February 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

Over-commercialization—when influencers promote too many products or aren't transparent—can erode their audience's trust. Clear disclosures, such as #ad or #sponsored, help to maintain transparency and adherence with advertising regulations. Unfortunately, such disclosures are often hidden among numerous hashtags or omitted altogether.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

===Web===
{{Main|Advertising overload in websites}}
Ever since the introduction of [[Web cookie|cookies]] in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=HuffPost |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Conversation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>Crossland, Archie, (2024-06-20) [https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Ad Overload: Are Publishers Showing Too Many Ads?] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.

====Banner Ads====
Banner ads are the most common form of web ads and one of the oldest forms of digital advertising, usually appearing as rectangular graphics at the top, bottom, or sides of a webpage. However, despite their pervasiveness, their effectiveness has been questioned due to phenomena such as banner blindness, where users unconsciously ignore ad-like content. Banner ads work only if they are rightly placed, well designed, and relevant.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Joowon |last2=Ahn |first2=Jae-Hyeon |date=Oct 2012 |title=Attention to Banner Ads and Their Effectiveness: An Eye-Tracking Approach |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220930043417/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |archive-date=30 Sep 2022}}</ref>

This research<ref name=":7" /> featured the use of eye-tracking technology to analyze how users behave with banner ads. It was found that such ads placed in central or prominent positions on a webpage receive significantly more attention than those in peripheral areas. Moreover, the animated and interactive banners are better at capturing attention than static ones; however, too much may become distracting and otherwise counterproductive. This also underlines that the relevance of the ad to the user's interests is one of the critical drivers of engagement. If banner ads are contextual, relating either to the content of the webpage or the browsing behavior of the user, they are more likely to be noticed and clicked. Advertisers should focus on creating non-intrusive, contextually relevant advertisements that add value to the user experience—not disrupt it.

==Notable Examples==
This section is a stub, please add to it!

===YouTube===
YouTube serves six different categories of advertisement:

*'''Skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These have no maximum length, though they are skippable after playing for five seconds.
**They can play before, during, or after other videos, or as a full screen interstitial ad in the mobile app.
**They can also appear on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=About YouTube TV Ads - Google Ads Help |url=https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114224304/https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Mar 2026 |website=Google Support}}</ref>
*'''Non-skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These are up to 60 seconds long, and can't be skipped.
**They can appear before, during, and after other videos, and on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9" />
*'''In-feed Video Ads'''
**These consist of a thumbnail and some text, appearing alongside real videos.
**They can appear amongst the search results, on the YouTube mobile homepage, and alongside related videos.
*'''Bumper Ads'''
**Bumper Ads are a category of non-skippable ads that are at most 6 seconds long.
*'''Masthead Ads'''
**These ads have no maximum length, though on desktop platforms only the first 30 seconds play.
**This ad consists of a video that autoplays at the top of the YouTube home feed. After the video is finished (or after 30 seconds on desktop) the ad displays a thumbnail.
*'''YouTube Shorts Ads'''
**These ads are intended to blend in with normal Shorts videos. As with normal Shorts, users can skip the ad by swiping up or down, and the ad will be kept and reshown if the user scrolls back.
**YouTube does not list a hard time limit, but they recommend a maximum of 60 seconds. <ref>{{Cite web |title=About video ad formats - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |access-date=11 Mar 2026 |website=Google Support |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228102834/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |archive-date=28 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====YouTube premium controversy====
Recent controversy has brought up cases in which YouTube Premium subscribers still see advertisements—contrary to the service's own highlighting of offering an ad-free experience. Users have reported both pre-roll ads and mid-roll ads, along with promotional content in the Home feed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have YouTube premium, why am I getting adds. |author=CaptainMystery_123 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525154227/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |archive-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> In one prominent case, a user in Germany received an email from support at YouTube which said, in essence: "Sometimes promotional ads may appear for specific partnerships or limited-time offers," thereby hinting at the possibility of factors like location, viewing history, or special marketing efforts that could influence the event.

In response to these reports, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that Premium members should not see either pre-roll or mid-roll ads. They further stated that if subscribers do, they should reach out to support immediately. YouTube also said that Premium members may have access to different rewards with trusted partners, which they outline on their benefits page, but those shouldn't show up as ads within the video itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Some YouTube Premium users are seeing ads, but YouTube says they shouldn’t be |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=9to5google |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250801232117/https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2025}}</ref> A fix for this is also shown in [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/why-youtube-premium-users-may-still-see-ads/story this guide].

Notably, even use of YouTube Premium does not guarantee an ad-free YouTube experience because of the high volume of users who insert sponsored segments (in-video product advertisements) into their videos. For a truly 100% ad-free experience, the best solution is to sue YouTube Premium on Desktop with the [https://sponsor.ajay.app/ SponsorBlocker] plugin installed which automatically skips past sponsored segments and other things creators do to waste your time such as reminding you to subscribe to the channel.

==Further Reading==
*[[Stellantis in car advertisements]]
*[[Samsung ads in refrigerators]]
*[[Ad block]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]

Advertising overload

2026-06-15T15:31:16Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Video Ads */ link to personalized ads

{{Cleanup|Issue 1 = Clean up, update, and standardize citations (see [[Template:Cite web]]).}}
Advertising overload refers to the practice of not only integrating advertising as a source of revenue in software and websites, but also increasing the number of ads within platforms that consumers use. This has increasingly caused inconvenience to consumers. A commonly cited issue is the ever-increasing length of unskippable ads, which are forcibly shown even to people who need to watch CPR videos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrews |first=Luke |date=5 Jun 2023 |title=YouTube is playing three-minute-long adverts before FIRST AID videos — and they've already been linked to at least one death |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709000810/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12143973/YouTube-playing-30-second-adverts-AID-videos.html |archive-date=9 Jul 2025 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |work=Daily Mail}}</ref>

==Applications in industries==
===Operating systems===
Operating systems have been experiencing advertising overload, most notably the large market lead [[Windows]]. [[Activision Blizzard|King]]'s Candy Crush frequently comes pre-installed on [[Windows]] 10 operating systems, without consumer consent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscaritolo |first=Angela |date=15 May 2025 |title=Windows 10 Will Come With Candy Crush Saga Pre-Installed |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=PCMag |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130100032/https://www.pcmag.com/news/windows-10-will-come-with-candy-crush-saga-pre-installed |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> Microsoft Solitaire Collection, a mainstay title for Windows devices, has had unnecessary ads inserted into the software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2020 |title=Unwanted ads in solitaire collection |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unwanted-ads-in-solitaire-collection/814c97f6-30e5-478d-89f0-dfcad1085485 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 Aug 2024 |title=How to stop ads on Microsoft Solitaire collection? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Games Learning Society |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508004832/https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/how-to-stop-ads-on-microsoft-solitaire-collection/ |archive-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Users who purchased Windows 10+ licenses have reported a progressively increasing number of ads within the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=28 Feb 2021 |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=How-To Geek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260125093825/https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |archive-date=25 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=De Leon |first=Nicholas |date=21 Oct 2024 |title=How to Get Rid of the Ads and Other Shortcomings in Windows 11 |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Consumer Reports |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723174357/https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/computers/windows-11-how-to-get-rid-of-ads-and-other-shortcomings-a7800213441/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2023 |title=Every time I login to my PC a screen advertising Game Pass appears. How do I stop this? |url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174703/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/every-time-i-login-to-my-pc-a-screen-advertising/6f83ad8a-3dab-43ef-871e-979b58965f6f |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> Windows 10 additionally has pop-ups that frequently prompt legacy users to purchase Windows 11-supported hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Kate |date=21 Nov 2024 |title=Microsoft Pushes Copilot+ PCs on Windows 10 Users With Pop-Up Ads |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2024 |website=PCMag |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126125054/https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-pushes-copilot-plus-pcs-on-windows-10-users-with-pop-up-ads |archive-date=26 Jan 2025}}</ref> While it is possible to disable this pop-up via registry editing in Win 10 Pro edition,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stagg |first=Dave |date=Feb 14, 2022 |title=How to disable the Windows 11 Upgrade prompt |url=https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Endpoint Focus |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250130215921/https://endpointfocus.com/how-to-disable-the-windows-11-upgrade-prompt/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref> the registries that are changed with this method are the ones which handle receiving any update, including security updates.

Smart televisions also have been seeing a sharp increase in advertisements within the operating system as well, such as [[Roku]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roku Advertising |url=https://advertising.roku.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260201023014/https://advertising.roku.com/ |archive-date=2026-02-01 |website=[[Roku]]}}</ref> and [[Amazon]] Fire TV.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire TV |url=https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215085117/https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/ad-specs/fire-tv |archive-date=2025-12-15 |website=[[Amazon]]}}</ref> [[Roku]] has faced criticism for its plans to introduce ads that appear whenever users pause a game they are playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=4 Apr 2024 |title=Roku’s New HDMI Tech Could Show Ads When You Pause Your Game |url=https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174717/https://kotaku.com/roku-patent-hdmi-tech-tv-ads-game-console-pause-screen-1851388976 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> This introduces privacy concerns since these detection systems depend on constant spying on consumer's activities.
[[File:Fire TV ads.png|thumb|A screenshot of the home screen for an Amazon Fire TV]]
[[File:Xbox One Dashboard.jpg|thumb|The Xbox One dashboard as of 2022]]
Users of [[Xbox]] One/Series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=26 Jul 2023 |title=New Xbox Dashboard Looks Great, Still Has Too Many Ads |url=https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250725071633/https://kotaku.com/xbox-series-x-s-dashboard-update-game-pass-ui-1850679127 |archive-date=25 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Micheals |first=Steve |date=22 Jan 2024 |title=Xbox Gamers Not Happy About Full-Screen Ads |url=https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |url-status=dead |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=GameRant |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724143350/https://gamerant.com/xbox-full-screen-ads/ |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> and [[PlayStation]] 4/5 consoles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=30 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 Homescreen Now Replaces Unique Video Game Art With Annoying Ads You Can’t Turn Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=IGN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722001903/https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-homescreen-now-replaces-unique-video-game-art-with-annoying-ads-you-cant-turn-off |archive-date=22 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bevan |first=Rhiannon |date=1 Oct 2024 |title=PlayStation Blames PS5 Dashboard Ads On "Tech Error" |url=https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241005041024/https://www.thegamer.com/ps5-dashboard-ads-were-a-bug-tech-issue-removed/ |archive-date=5 Oct 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Co |first=Alex |date=29 Sep 2024 |title=PS5 New UI Update Also Brought Ads You Can’t Turn Off and Unwanted Forced News Feed to Select Titles |url=https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=MP1ST |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174701/https://mp1st.com/news/ps5-new-ui-update-also-brought-unwanted-forced-news-feed-and-ads-to-select-titles |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> have been receiving ads on the home screens of their systems for over a decade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Xbox One Dashboard Ads |url=https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/xbox-one-dashboard-ads |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260303054040/https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/xbox-one-dashboard-ads |archive-date=2026-03-03 |website=ar.inspiredpencil.com}}</ref> This practice dates back to the 7th console generation, such as on the [[Xbox]] 360.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-20 |title=The ads finally were removed from the Xbox 360 dashboard |url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/the-ads-finally-were-removed-from-the-xbox-360-dashboard.1549854/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ZExyD |archive-date=2026-03-09 |website=NeoGAF}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Low-quality source}}

===Streaming services===
In the late 2010s, there was a polarizing shift within the streaming service industry. New streaming services like IMDb TV and [[Roku]] Television came onto the scene offering free streaming, Freedive<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=
Amazon’s IMDb launches a free streaming service, Freedive |website=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazons-imdb-launches-a-free-streaming-service-freedive/ |url-status=live |date=10 Jan 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114025023/https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/amazons-imdb-launches-a-free-streaming-service-freedive/ |archive-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> and The Roku Channel (2017)<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=Roku launches its own channel featuring free, ad-supported movies |website=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/06/roku-launches-its-own-channel-featuring-free-ad-supported-movies/ |url-status=live |date=6 Sep 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120121726/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/06/roku-launches-its-own-channel-featuring-free-ad-supported-movies/ |archive-date=2019-11-20}}</ref> respectively, with the caveat of ads. This inspired corporations who operated premium streaming services to do the same. In the early 2020s, paying users were forced to watch ads.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |author= |title=Ads on Netflix |url=https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 |website=[[Netflix]] |date= |access-date=24 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128131131/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/126831 |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> Since then, users have only been reporting an increase in the amounts of ads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 Sep 2021 |title=Share of adults who think there were too many ads on video streaming services in the United States as of September 2021, by generation |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Statista |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212237/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1307619/video-streaming-advertising-frequency-by-generation-us/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref> that they watch on their services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Scott |date=5 Jan 2025 |title=Amazon Prime Video Increases Ad Frequency In The US To Boost Revenue |url=https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=9meters |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250724175144/https://9meters.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-prime-video-increases-advertisements-in-the-us-to-boost-revenue-increase-ad-free-signups |archive-date=24 Jul 2025}}</ref> These premium providers, such as [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]],<ref name=":8" /> do offer versions of their services that are ad free at a higher cost. Consumers have labeled this practice as a form of extortion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=23 Sep 2023 |title=Why every streaming service wants you to watch ads now |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Fast Company |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127234258/https://www.fastcompany.com/90956587/why-every-streaming-service-wants-you-to-watch-ads-now |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> Plex is one of the few services which only offer a paid, ad-supported version of its platform.

These ad-free tiers additionally are increasing in price,<ref name=":2" /> so it often forces consumers who are disinterested in alternative means to either pay an excessive amount of money to watch their favorite media, or be barraged by increasing ads.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


===Traditional gaming===
While not on par with its Mobile gaming counterpart, traditional video games have also been experiencing this heavy increase in advertising. This has especially been seen and documented from titles such as [[Call of Duty]] and [[Fortnite]]. The home screen and launch screen experience for these games often aim to direct players toward the storefront, encouraging them to purchase the products that are being promoted that day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=u/Character-Acrobatic |date=Jun 16, 2024 |title=Stop advertising inside the game |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=reddit |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250118135659/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernWarfareIII/comments/1dgvt12/stop_advertising_inside_the_game/ |archive-date=18 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=Nov 3, 2023 |title=Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Has A Full-Screen Ad That Some People Don't Like |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Gamespot |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211104346/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-has-a-full-screen-ad-that-some-people-dont-like/1100-6518890/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> Additionally, killcams in Call of Duty have seen ads as well.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aguilar |first=Jorge A. |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Call of Duty Brings Advertisements to Player Killcams |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=How to Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207081717/https://www.howtogeek.com/call-of-duty-advertisements-player-killcams/ |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> 

[[Activision Blizzard]] has a dedicated advertising division for companies to advertise their products inside their games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powering brand connections in gaming |url=https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/solutions/technology/gaming-solutions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103021919/https://www.activisionblizzardmedia.com/ |archive-date=2026-01-03 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> [[Epic Games, Inc.|Epic Games]] has done a similar thing.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Joey |date=24 Jul 2024 |title=Fortnite Ads |url=https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Media Shark |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260215212419/https://gomediashark.com/fortnite-ads/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattin |first=Pesach |date=27 Jan 2023 |title=Fortnite In-Game Advertising. How does it Work? |url=https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=aDOtat |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251017164045/https://www.adotat.com/2023/01/fortnite-in-game-advertising-how-does-it-work/ |archive-date=17 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=Matthew |date=Dec 2, 2020 |title=How Fortnite Became Gaming’s Great Shameless Marketing Tool |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |access-date=Mar 15, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215013514/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/fortnite-marketing-tool-epic-games-events-star-wars-marvel/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> It is expected that legitimate ads may be progressively more pervasive within the media that users pay for.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Olivia |date=11 Oct 2023 |title=In-Game Advertising: How it Works and Why it Works |url=https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Abios |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205150742/https://abiosgaming.com/press/in-game-adverting-fortnite/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref> Advertising agencies in general are also trying to integrate billboard ads for legitimate products inside games, such as Trackmania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vargas |first=Anthony |date=2 Mar 2022 |title=NBCU Adds In-Game Ads To Its Sales Roster Through Partnership With Anzu |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Ad Exchanger |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114020308/https://www.adexchanger.com/gaming/nbcu-adds-in-game-ads-to-its-sales-roster-through-partnership-with-anzu/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Anzu NBCUniversal partnership in Trackmania.jpg|thumb|In-game ads in Trackmania.]]
Some platforms have gone so far as to send users notifications explicitly promoting these new products available for purchase within the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Huzaifa |date=24 Nov 2023 |title=Ubisoft Cites “Technical Error” For Recent In-Game Pop-Up Fiasco |url=https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Exputer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206085537/https://exputer.com/news/games/ubisoft-technical-error-in-game-ad/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> Most have kept these notifications in-game,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to get rid of GTA Online ads on loading screens |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210127195925/https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/l3xthb/how_to_get_rid_of_gta_online_ads_on_loading/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2021}}</ref> but some have been reported to leave notification pop-ups directly on users' devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Mar 2023 |title=Why am I constantly having game app ads popping up even when I'm not playing games? |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250115063953/https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204580579/why-am-i-constantly-having-game-app-ads-popping-up-even-when-i-m-not-playing-games?hl=en |archive-date=15 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2023 |title=Game ads keep popping up every 15-30 seconds! |url=https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Amazon Forum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174714/https://www.amazonforum.com/s/question/0D56Q0000CLnjCLSQZ/game-ads-keep-popping-up-every-1530-seconds |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> It is entirely plausible that these marketplace advertisements will increase in popularity from publishers as time goes on.
<gallery>
File:CoD in-game ads example.jpg|Cod MW3 - Ad in-game marketing the premium version.
File:Fortnite in-game T-Mobile ad.webp|Fortnite - Ad marketing T-Mobile.
</gallery>

====Advergaming====
{{Main|Advergames}}
While not as popular as it once was, companies would pay developers to work on games that exist solely to advertise a product, such as McDonald's McWorld, which also advertised other products inside the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivetti |first=Justin |title=The Game Archaeologist: McDonalds’ McWorld MMO is a thing that existed |url=https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ |website=Massively Overpowered |date=23 May 2020 |access-date=24 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005215/https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/23/the-game-archaeologist-mcdonalds-mcworld-mmo-is-a-thing-that-existed/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Sometimes these games would also introduce additional anti-consumer practices, often to the detriment of young children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Eric |title=McWorld: What happens when a fast food restaurant create an online virtual world |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=27 Jan 2023 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=6nerFPG-PEQ |archive-date=25 May 2026}}</ref> Many of these games were made as shovelware as well, so many of these games are often not meant for an extended period of time to be accessible. Older advergames often only sold for a short period, only up to a few years at best, so if a game held any quality, there is a problem of [[FOMO]], this has been seen with popular titles such as Pepsiman on the PS1 or Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis. In the 2000s, these games often preferred accessing servers, mostly to encourage serving additional ads. Many of these would not last long, and these products people invest into are just taken away from them, such as ToonTown<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=23 Aug 2013 |title=Coping with the loss of an online world |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=CNN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250813162715/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/gaming-gadgets/closing-toontown/index.html |archive-date=13 Aug 2025}}</ref> or Club Penguin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=3 Apr 2017 |title=Disney’s Beloved Club Penguin Has Shut Down After More Than a Decade. We Documented Its Final Days. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Slate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219191942/https://slate.com/culture/2017/04/what-the-end-of-disneys-mmo-club-penguin-was-like-inside-the-game.html |archive-date=19 Dec 2025}}</ref>

In the modern day, Advergaming has largely preferred existing metaverses, such as Roblox<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bains |first=Callum |date=13 Jul 2024 |title=‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215212500/https://www.theguardian.com/games/article/2024/jul/13/advergames-how-games-platform-roblox-became-a-corporate-marketing-playground |archive-date=15 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Chantelle |date=4 Jun 2024 |title=Ikea is Hiring 10 Roblox Players to Work at In-Game Store |url=https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Time |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250723195409/https://time.com/6985642/ikea-hiring-workers-roblox-game/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2025}}</ref> or the literal Metaverse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Charles |date=14 Jun 2022 |title=Is Dining in the Metaverse Real? Brands Seem to Think So |url=https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Localogy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174722/https://www.localogy.com/2022/06/is-dining-in-the-metaverse-real-brands-seem-to-think-so/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> These too, have brought controversy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=22 Apr 2022 |title=Roblox is ‘exploiting’ users with deceptive advertising, watchdog group says |url=https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Polygon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210010651/https://www.polygon.com/23035640/roblox-ads-deceptive-ftc-complaint/ |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref> and can be seen as anti-consumer.

===Mobile gaming===
A feature often associated with modern day mobile games are ads, especially [[False advertising|misleading ads]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shetty |first=Saurabh |date=27 Jan 2024 |title=How misleading mobile game ads are hurting the industry |url=https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=GamingonPhone |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821164359/https://gamingonphone.com/editorial/how-misleading-mobile-game-ads-are-hurting-the-industry/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Vignesh |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=False Promises, Real Profits: Why Misleading Ads Work for Mobile Games |url=https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=AFKGaming |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250803090619/https://afkgaming.com/global/false-promises-real-profits-why-misleading-ads-work-for-mobile-games |archive-date=3 Aug 2025}}</ref> Unfortunately, publishers such as Puzzle1Studio, Metacore Games, and [[Rovio]] have a history of publishing titles that corner the consumer into frequently watching ads in the middle of their games.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=LaMarca |first=Livia |date=8 Dec 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} Oh my god, please stop the excessive ads on mobile games! |url=https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ThePittNews |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211161555/https://pittnews.com/article/177875/opinions/opinion-oh-my-god-please-stop-the-excessive-ads-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> This practice additionally leeches into Microtransactions, wherein these app developers will intentionally try to coax users into watching ads for increased rewards, or to reduce cooldown times.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kew-Denniss |first=Zachary |date=7 Dec 2023 |title=Google and Apple share the blame for mobile gaming's awful reputation |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Android Police |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251213062816/https://www.androidpolice.com/google-apple-share-blame-for-mobile-gamings-awful-reputation/ |archive-date=13 Dec 2025}}</ref>

Major software distribution platforms, such as the Google Play store or the iOS App Store, often allow this behavior<ref name=":4" /> to persist from app developers, even featuring these ad-heavy games.

===Social media===
Social media has become a fundamental part of the advertising world, thanks to the ease with which targeted audiences can be reached based on their interests. There are various types of advertising that users encounter when using all major social media platforms.

====Native ads (In-feed ads)====
Native ads are designed to blend seamlessly into the rest of the feed, mimicking its appearance. They are generally more engaging and lead to stronger brand identification among consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Apr 2015 |title=Ad Effectiveness Study: Native Ads Vs Banner Ads |url=https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Sharethrough |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215071950/https://www.sharethrough.com/blog/ad-effectiveness-study-native-ads-vs-banner-ads |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> Native ads are distinguishable from organic content by the label “sponsored,” often written in very small text. As highlighted by Dr. Bartosz W. Wojdynski’s research,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wojdynski |first=Bartosz W. |date=Jul 2016 |title=The Deceptiveness of Sponsored News Articles: How Readers Recognize and Perceive Native Advertising |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230129003538/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305718389_The_Deceptiveness_of_Sponsored_News_Articles_How_Readers_Recognize_and_Perceive_Native_Advertising |archive-date=29 Jan 2023}}</ref> native ads can easily be misleading. In fact, 68% of participants in his study failed to distinguish them from organic content. Therefore, it is crucial that these ads do not come across as deceptive. The [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] follows these three principles:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses |url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[FTC]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103230211/https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/native-advertising-guide-businesses |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref><blockquote>
#'''Transparency is key''': An advertisement or promotional message should not suggest or imply to consumers that it is anything other than an ad.
#'''Clarity of commercial intent''': Some native ads may be so clearly commercial in nature that they are unlikely to mislead consumers even without a specific disclosure. In other cases, a disclosure may be necessary to ensure consumers understand the content is advertising.
#'''Clear and prominent disclosures''': If a disclosure is necessary to prevent deception, it must be clear and prominent.
</blockquote>
====Video Ads====
Video ads are among the most common forms of advertising on social media. They can appear either as standalone content or be inserted at the beginning, end, or middle of another video. Shorter, skippable, and non-intrusively placed ads perform better, as they respect user autonomy. [[Personalized ads |Targeted ads]] are more likely to capture interest. As with other ad formats, transparency is crucial here as well, ensuring that the ad is not perceived as intrusive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishnan |first=S. Shunmuga |last2=Sitaraman |first2=Ramesh K. |title=Understanding the Effectiveness of Video Ads: A Measurement Study |url=https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240722060725/https://www.akamai.com/site/en/documents/research-paper/understanding-the-effectiveness-of-video-ads-a-measurement-study-technical-publication.pdf |archive-date=22 Jul 2024}}</ref>

====Stories Ads====
Ads that appear in Stories are full-screen, vertical, and often feature interactive elements like swipe-up links, polls, or countdowns. They expire after 24 hours, giving them an ephemeral nature. Story ads are better perceived when they are creative, non-intrusive, and relevant to users' interests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahatmavidya |first=P.A. |last2=Kerti Yasa |first2=Ni Nyoman |date=Mar 2020 |title=ADVERTISING VALUE OF INSTAGRAM STORIES AND THE EFFECT ON MILLENNIAL’S ATTITUDE |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL%27S_ATTITUDE |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231126232406/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339884883_ADVERTISING_VALUE_OF_INSTAGRAM_STORIES_AND_THE_EFFECT_ON_MILLENNIAL'S_ATTITUDE |archive-date=26 Nov 2023}}</ref>

====Influencer marketing====
Influencer marketing is a type of advertising in which brands team up with social media personalities, also known as influencers, to promote a product or service.

Most of these influencers have built a credible standing among a large and engaged following. Brands use brand deals to leverage the influencers' credibility and relatibility and reach audiences in ways that feel far more authentic than traditional advertising.

Users are more influenced by social media personalities who share their values and lifestyles. Consequently, authenticity, trustworthiness, and relevance are the key drivers of consumer behavior. Thus, when influencers share real-life experiences of using a product or service, their recommendations are more likely to resonate with followers and result in higher levels of engagement and purchase intent.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Anjali |date=Jun 2020 |title=Influencer Marketing: An Exploratory Study to Identify Antecedents of Consumer Behavior of Millennial |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230506202540/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342181914_Influencer_Marketing_An_Exploratory_Study_to_Identify_Antecedents_of_Consumer_Behavior_of_Millennial |archive-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

Congruence—the match between the persona of the influencer, the product they are promoting, and the interests of the audience—is crucial. When the fit among these elements is strong it makes the campaign appear more genuine, and therefore more credible. Strong congruence will improve the credibility of an influencer, and create a stronger emotional relationship with the audience.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Belanche |first=Daniel |last2=Ibáñez Sánchez |first2=Sergio |last3=Casaló Ariño |first3=Luis Vicente |last4=Flavián |first4=Marta |date=Apr 2021 |title=Understanding influencer marketing: The role of congruence between influencers, products and consumers |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225102404/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352120476_Understanding_influencer_marketing_The_role_of_congruence_between_influencers_products_and_consumers |archive-date=25 February 2026 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

Over-commercialization—when influencers promote too many products or aren't transparent—can erode their audience's trust. Clear disclosures, such as #ad or #sponsored, help to maintain transparency and adherence with advertising regulations. Unfortunately, such disclosures are often hidden among numerous hashtags or omitted altogether.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

===Web===
{{Main|Advertising overload in websites}}
Ever since the introduction of [[Web cookie|cookies]] in the early 1990s, websites have been trying to make progressively more money off of advertisers. This pattern used to be easily thwarted, as in the early days of the web, consumers could simply choose not to visit these websites to avoid being so pervasively served advertisements. Unfortunately, in modern times, consumers lack this capability, as mass advertising has now become a systemic problem. Popular news sources, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others, are filled to the brim with advertisements. As mentioned by publications such as The Huffington Post,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Christopher |date=8 Feb 2017 |title=Yes, There Are Too Many Ads Online. Yes, You Can Stop Them. Here's How. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=HuffPost |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127141328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-there-are-too-many-ads-online-yes-you-can-stop_b_589b888de4b02bbb1816c297 |archive-date=27 Nov 2025}}</ref> The Conversation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Steve |date=18 Sep 2024 |title=Why is the internet overflowing with rubbish ads – and what can we do about it? |url=https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Conversation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260126234756/https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-internet-overflowing-with-rubbish-ads-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-237980 |archive-date=26 Jan 2026}}</ref> and B2,<ref>Crossland, Archie, (2024-06-20) [https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Ad Overload: Are Publishers Showing Too Many Ads?] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250815092938/https://www.b2.ai/ad-overload-are-publishers-showing-too-many-ads/ Archived])</ref> the web itself has too many ads.

====Banner Ads====
Banner ads are the most common form of web ads and one of the oldest forms of digital advertising, usually appearing as rectangular graphics at the top, bottom, or sides of a webpage. However, despite their pervasiveness, their effectiveness has been questioned due to phenomena such as banner blindness, where users unconsciously ignore ad-like content. Banner ads work only if they are rightly placed, well designed, and relevant.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Joowon |last2=Ahn |first2=Jae-Hyeon |date=Oct 2012 |title=Attention to Banner Ads and Their Effectiveness: An Eye-Tracking Approach |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ResearchGate |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220930043417/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262090327_Attention_to_Banner_Ads_and_Their_Effectiveness_An_Eye-Tracking_Approach |archive-date=30 Sep 2022}}</ref>

This research<ref name=":7" /> featured the use of eye-tracking technology to analyze how users behave with banner ads. It was found that such ads placed in central or prominent positions on a webpage receive significantly more attention than those in peripheral areas. Moreover, the animated and interactive banners are better at capturing attention than static ones; however, too much may become distracting and otherwise counterproductive. This also underlines that the relevance of the ad to the user's interests is one of the critical drivers of engagement. If banner ads are contextual, relating either to the content of the webpage or the browsing behavior of the user, they are more likely to be noticed and clicked. Advertisers should focus on creating non-intrusive, contextually relevant advertisements that add value to the user experience—not disrupt it.

==Notable Examples==
This section is a stub, please add to it!

===YouTube===
YouTube serves six different categories of advertisement:

*'''Skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These have no maximum length, though they are skippable after playing for five seconds.
**They can play before, during, or after other videos, or as a full screen interstitial ad in the mobile app.
**They can also appear on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=About YouTube TV Ads - Google Ads Help |url=https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114224304/https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10651730 |archive-date=14 Jan 2026 |access-date=11 Mar 2026 |website=Google Support}}</ref>
*'''Non-skippable In-stream Ads'''
**These are up to 60 seconds long, and can't be skipped.
**They can appear before, during, and after other videos, and on YouTube TV.<ref name=":9" />
*'''In-feed Video Ads'''
**These consist of a thumbnail and some text, appearing alongside real videos.
**They can appear amongst the search results, on the YouTube mobile homepage, and alongside related videos.
*'''Bumper Ads'''
**Bumper Ads are a category of non-skippable ads that are at most 6 seconds long.
*'''Masthead Ads'''
**These ads have no maximum length, though on desktop platforms only the first 30 seconds play.
**This ad consists of a video that autoplays at the top of the YouTube home feed. After the video is finished (or after 30 seconds on desktop) the ad displays a thumbnail.
*'''YouTube Shorts Ads'''
**These ads are intended to blend in with normal Shorts videos. As with normal Shorts, users can skip the ad by swiping up or down, and the ad will be kept and reshown if the user scrolls back.
**YouTube does not list a hard time limit, but they recommend a maximum of 60 seconds. <ref>{{Cite web |title=About video ad formats - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |access-date=11 Mar 2026 |website=Google Support |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228102834/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2375464?hl=en#Youtube_Shorts_ads |archive-date=28 Feb 2026}}</ref>

====YouTube premium controversy====
Recent controversy has brought up cases in which YouTube Premium subscribers still see advertisements—contrary to the service's own highlighting of offering an ad-free experience. Users have reported both pre-roll ads and mid-roll ads, along with promotional content in the Home feed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have YouTube premium, why am I getting adds. |author=CaptainMystery_123 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250525154227/https://old.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/18ll7y6/i_have_youtube_premium_why_am_i_getting_adds/ |archive-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> In one prominent case, a user in Germany received an email from support at YouTube which said, in essence: "Sometimes promotional ads may appear for specific partnerships or limited-time offers," thereby hinting at the possibility of factors like location, viewing history, or special marketing efforts that could influence the event.

In response to these reports, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that Premium members should not see either pre-roll or mid-roll ads. They further stated that if subscribers do, they should reach out to support immediately. YouTube also said that Premium members may have access to different rewards with trusted partners, which they outline on their benefits page, but those shouldn't show up as ads within the video itself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=13 Nov 2024 |title=Some YouTube Premium users are seeing ads, but YouTube says they shouldn’t be |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=9to5google |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250801232117/https://9to5google.com/2024/11/13/youtube-premium-ads-statement/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2025}}</ref> A fix for this is also shown in [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/why-youtube-premium-users-may-still-see-ads/story this guide].

Notably, even use of YouTube Premium does not guarantee an ad-free YouTube experience because of the high volume of users who insert sponsored segments (in-video product advertisements) into their videos. For a truly 100% ad-free experience, the best solution is to sue YouTube Premium on Desktop with the SponsorBlocker plugin installed which automatically skips past sponsored segments and other things creators do to waste your time such as reminding you to subscribe to the channel.

==Further Reading==
*[[Stellantis in car advertisements]]
*[[Samsung ads in refrigerators]]
*[[Ad block]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]
[[Category:Theme]]

Switch Game Key-Card

2026-06-15T15:25:28Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: ClippyWantsToHelp moved page Switch Game Key-Card to Switch Game-Key Card: Misspelled title

#REDIRECT [[Switch Game-Key Card]]

Switch Game-Key Card

2026-06-15T15:25:28Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: ClippyWantsToHelp moved page Switch Game Key-Card to Switch Game-Key Card: Misspelled title

{{StubNotice}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ReleaseYear=2025
|In Production=Yes
|Website=https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch-2/
|Logo=Nintendo Switch 2 game keycard.png
|Description=
}}

The [[Nintendo Switch 2]] Game-Key Card is a game cartridge available for Nintendo Switch 2 that differentiates from regular game cartridges by containing only a game license instead of game data inside the cartridge. In order to start playing a game, the Key-Card must be inserted and the console must be connected to the network to download the game. After the game is downloaded it can be accessed without a network requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Nintendo |date=9 Jan 2026 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card Overview |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68415/~/nintendo-switch 2-game-key-card-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260109101550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68415/~/nintendo-switch 2-game-key-card-overview |archive-date=2026-01-09 |access-date=28 Mar 2026 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref>
[[File:Nintendo Switch 2 KCard dislike ratio.png|thumb|Screenshot of the announcement video posted by [[Nintendo]] on YouTube as of 28 March 2026. The amount of dislikes is significantly higher than the amount of likes, evidencing the mostly negative reception of this announcement. This video revealed that the anticipated game ''Pokémon Pokopia'' would be a Key Card, a contradiction to statements from Nintendo that First-Party games would never be Key Cards.]]
Game-Key cards were announced on November 11, 2025. This announcement sparked controversies and outrage amongst the consumers, critizicing Nintendo's decision. Also Nintendo posted a video on [[YouTube]] containing a brief explanation about the Game Key-Cards that day. The public reaction was overwhelmingly negative. As of March 28, 2026, according to the ''Return Youtube Dislikes'' browser extension, the video announcing the Game-Key Cards has approximately 33,458 dislikes vs 5,069 likes.


==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User freedom:''' Game-Key Cards require access to the [[Nintendo eShop]] for the [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2]] to be used for the first time on a user's console. Functions like how many games released on the [[Xbox]] One/Series consoles.
*'''User privacy:''' A Nintendo Account is not required in order to download and play a Key-Card game.
*'''Business model:''' Trim costs for game distribution

==Impact==

===Right to ownership===
Due to the favorably cheaper nature<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |title=Nintendo Says Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Help Third-Party Publishers Bring ‘Deeper, Larger, and More Immersive Content on the Platform’ |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-says-switch-2-game-key-cards-help-third-party-publishers-bring-deeper-larger-and-more-immersive-content-on-the-platform |website=IGN |date=15 May 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821043854/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-says-switch-2-game-key-cards-help-third-party-publishers-bring-deeper-larger-and-more-immersive-content-on-the-platform |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref> of a generic Game Card that holds a download code, progressively more third-party games are adopting having their physical distribution be exclusive to these cards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Brian |title=List of all Nintendo Switch 2 games with a game-key card release |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/list-of-all-nintendo-switch-2-games-with-a-game-key-card-release/ |website=Nintendo Everything |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222230217/https://nintendoeverything.com/list-of-all-nintendo-switch-2-games-with-a-game-key-card-release/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Nintendo has created a way to control a user's machine from afar, despite the machine having been sold to the user as a personal property. The terms and conditions in the Nintendo Switch 2 license agreement render the purchased unit as if it were rented, with the controlling company able to restrict, deny access, or outright ban users for using their product in any way the seller does not see fit, with console bans resulting in the system being unable to go online. This means that any banned Nintendo Switch 2 will be completely incapable of actually using Game-Key Cards.

Nintendo generated controversy in November 2025 when it was revealed that their upcoming title, ''Pokémon Pokopia'', would be released as a Game-Key Card, contradicting previous claims made by the company that their own developed games would never be released as Game-Key Cards.

In the months after the Nintendo Switch 2 released, a great deal of controversy emerged over this technology, with customers upset over an overwhelming number of Nintendo Switch 2 units being banned or bricked remotely by Nintendo, for reasons anywhere such as downloading third-party software.

==Games containing Game-Key Card==
This is a list of Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge games that contain a Game-Key Card:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hidalgo |first=Jason |date=10 Jun 2025 |title=Switch 2 Full Game Cartridge List: Physical, Game Key Card or Code-In-A-Box? |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2025/06/10/switch-2-full-cartridge-game-title-list-guide-physical-game-key-card-or-code-in-a-box-technobubble/84140477007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Zo6IH |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=28 Mar 2026 |website=Reno Gazette Journal}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
!Game
!Release Date
!Additional notes
|-
|007 First Light
|
|
|-
|Assassin’s Creed Shadows
|
|
|-
|BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
|
|
|-
|Borderlands 4
|
|
|-
|Cronos: The New Dawn
|
|
|-
|Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
|
|Game-Key Card cartridge is exclusive of the Japanese edition. Western version of the cartridge contain the full game.
|-
|Digimon Story Time Stranger
|
|
|-
|Disgaea 7 Complete
|
|
|-
|Disgaea Mayhem
|
|
|-
|DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined
|
|
|-
|Dynasty Warriors Origins
|
|
|-
|EA Sports FC 26
|
|
|-
|Farming Simulator: Signature Edition
|
|
|-
|FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH
|
|
|-
|FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
|
|
|-
|Full Metal Schoolgirl
|
|Game-Key Card is exclusive of the Japanese edition. Western edition is digital-only.
|-
|Goodnight Universe
|
|
|-
|High On Life 2
|
|
|-
|HITMAN World of Assassination - Signature Edition
|
|
|-
|Hogwarts Legacy
|
|
|-
|Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
|
|
|-
|Little Nightmares 3
|
|
|-
|Madden NFL 26
|
|
|-
|METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2
|
|
|-
|Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains
|
|
|-
|Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
|
|
|-
|NBA 2K26
|
|
|-
|Nickelodeon & The Dice of Destiny
|
|
|-
|Nogunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
|
|
|-
|No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files
|
|
|-
|OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0
|
|
|-
|PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC
|
|
|-
|Persona 3 Reload
|
|
|-
|PGA Tour 2K25
|
|
|-
|PRAGMATA
|
|
|-
|Pokémon Pokopia
|2026-03-05
|
|-
|Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
|
|
|-
|RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil Requiem
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil Village Gold Edition
|
|
|-
|Shine Post: Be Your Idol
|
|Currently only available in Japan.
|-
|SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS
|
|
|-
|SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
|
|
|-
|Squirrel With a Gun
|
|
|-
|Star Wars Outlaws
|
|
|-
|Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War
|
|
|-
|Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition
|
|
|-
|Suikoden
|
|
|-
|Suikoden 2
|
|
|-
|Survival Kids
|
|
|-
|Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition
|
|
|-
|The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
|
|
|-
|The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon
|
|
|-
|The Rogue Prince of Persia
|
|
|-
|The Witch’s Bakery
|
|
|-
|Wild Hearts S
|
|
|-
|Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami 2
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
|
|
|-
|Ys X: Proud Nordics
|
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Nintendo Switch]]
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Nintendo]]
[[Category:Products]]

Switch Game-Key Card

2026-06-15T15:25:00Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: fixed mispelled Game-Key Card names

Switch Game-Key Card

2026-06-15T15:20:58Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* See also */

{{StubNotice}}
{{ProductLineCargo
|ReleaseYear=2025
|In Production=Yes
|Website=https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch-2/
|Logo=Nintendo Switch 2 game keycard.png
|Description=
}}

The [[Nintendo Switch 2]] Game Key-Card is a game cartridge available for Nintendo Switch 2 that differentiates from regular game cartridges by containing only a game license instead of game data inside the cartridge. In order to start playing a game, the Key-Card must be inserted and the console must be connected to the network to download the game. After the game is downloaded it can be accessed without a network requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Nintendo |date=9 Jan 2026 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card Overview |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68415/~/nintendo-switch 2-game-key-card-overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260109101550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68415/~/nintendo-switch 2-game-key-card-overview |archive-date=2026-01-09 |access-date=28 Mar 2026 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref>
[[File:Nintendo Switch 2 KCard dislike ratio.png|thumb|Screenshot of the announcement video posted by [[Nintendo]] on YouTube as of 28 March 2026. The amount of dislikes is significantly higher than the amount of likes, evidencing the mostly negative reception of this announcement. This video revealed that the anticipated game ''Pokémon Pokopia'' would be a Key Card, a contradiction to statements from Nintendo that First-Party games would never be Key Cards.]]
Game-Key cards were announced on November 11, 2025. This announcement sparked controversies and outrage amongst the consumers, critizicing Nintendo's decision. Also Nintendo posted a video on [[YouTube]] containing a brief explanation about the Game Key-Cards that day. The public reaction was overwhelmingly negative. As of March 28, 2026, according to the ''Return Youtube Dislikes'' browser extension, the video announcing the Game Key-Cards has approximately 33,458 dislikes vs 5,069 likes.


==Consumer impact summary==
*'''User freedom:''' Game-Key Cards require access to the [[Nintendo eShop]] for the [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2]] to be used for the first time on a user's console. Functions like how many games released on the [[Xbox]] One/Series consoles.
*'''User privacy:''' A Nintendo Account is not required in order to download and play a Key-Card game.
*'''Business model:''' Trim costs for game distribution

==Impact==

===Right to ownership===
Due to the favorably cheaper nature<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |title=Nintendo Says Switch 2 Game-Key Cards Help Third-Party Publishers Bring ‘Deeper, Larger, and More Immersive Content on the Platform’ |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-says-switch-2-game-key-cards-help-third-party-publishers-bring-deeper-larger-and-more-immersive-content-on-the-platform |website=IGN |date=15 May 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821043854/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-says-switch-2-game-key-cards-help-third-party-publishers-bring-deeper-larger-and-more-immersive-content-on-the-platform |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref> of a generic Game Card that holds a download code, progressively more third-party games are adopting having their physical distribution be exclusive to these cards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Brian |title=List of all Nintendo Switch 2 games with a game-key card release |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/list-of-all-nintendo-switch-2-games-with-a-game-key-card-release/ |website=Nintendo Everything |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=26 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222230217/https://nintendoeverything.com/list-of-all-nintendo-switch-2-games-with-a-game-key-card-release/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Nintendo has created a way to control a user's machine from afar, despite the machine having been sold to the user as a personal property. The terms and conditions in the Nintendo Switch 2 license agreement render the purchased unit as if it were rented, with the controlling company able to restrict, deny access, or outright ban users for using their product in any way the seller does not see fit, with console bans resulting in the system being unable to go online. This means that any banned Nintendo Switch 2 will be completely incapable of actually using Game-Key Cards.

Nintendo generated controversy in November 2025 when it was revealed that their upcoming title, ''Pokémon Pokopia'', would be released as a Game-Key Card, contradicting previous claims made by the company that their own developed games would never be released as Game-Key Cards.

In the months after the Nintendo Switch 2 released, a great deal of controversy emerged over this technology, with customers upset over an overwhelming number of Nintendo Switch 2 units being banned or bricked remotely by Nintendo, for reasons anywhere such as downloading third-party software.

==Games containing Game Key Card==
This is a list of Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge games that contain a Game Key Card:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hidalgo |first=Jason |date=10 Jun 2025 |title=Switch 2 Full Game Cartridge List: Physical, Game Key Card or Code-In-A-Box? |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2025/06/10/switch-2-full-cartridge-game-title-list-guide-physical-game-key-card-or-code-in-a-box-technobubble/84140477007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Zo6IH |archive-date=2026-03-28 |access-date=28 Mar 2026 |website=Reno Gazette Journal}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
!Game
!Release Date
!Additional notes
|-
|007 First Light
|
|
|-
|Assassin’s Creed Shadows
|
|
|-
|BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
|
|
|-
|Borderlands 4
|
|
|-
|Cronos: The New Dawn
|
|
|-
|Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
|
|Game Key Card cartridge is exclusive of the Japanese edition. Western version of the cartridge contain the full game.
|-
|Digimon Story Time Stranger
|
|
|-
|Disgaea 7 Complete
|
|
|-
|Disgaea Mayhem
|
|
|-
|DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake
|
|
|-
|DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined
|
|
|-
|Dynasty Warriors Origins
|
|
|-
|EA Sports FC 26
|
|
|-
|Farming Simulator: Signature Edition
|
|
|-
|FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH
|
|
|-
|FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
|
|
|-
|Full Metal Schoolgirl
|
|Game Key Card is exclusive of the Japanese edition. Western edition is digital-only.
|-
|Goodnight Universe
|
|
|-
|High On Life 2
|
|
|-
|HITMAN World of Assassination - Signature Edition
|
|
|-
|Hogwarts Legacy
|
|
|-
|Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
|
|
|-
|Little Nightmares 3
|
|
|-
|Madden NFL 26
|
|
|-
|METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2
|
|
|-
|Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains
|
|
|-
|Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
|
|
|-
|NBA 2K26
|
|
|-
|Nickelodeon & The Dice of Destiny
|
|
|-
|Nogunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
|
|
|-
|No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files
|
|
|-
|OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0
|
|
|-
|PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC
|
|
|-
|Persona 3 Reload
|
|
|-
|PGA Tour 2K25
|
|
|-
|PRAGMATA
|
|
|-
|Pokémon Pokopia
|2026-03-05
|
|-
|Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
|
|
|-
|RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil Requiem
|
|
|-
|Resident Evil Village Gold Edition
|
|
|-
|Shine Post: Be Your Idol
|
|Currently only available in Japan.
|-
|SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS
|
|
|-
|SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide
|
|
|-
|Squirrel With a Gun
|
|
|-
|Star Wars Outlaws
|
|
|-
|Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War
|
|
|-
|Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition
|
|
|-
|Suikoden
|
|
|-
|Suikoden 2
|
|
|-
|Survival Kids
|
|
|-
|Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition
|
|
|-
|The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
|
|
|-
|The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon
|
|
|-
|The Rogue Prince of Persia
|
|
|-
|The Witch’s Bakery
|
|
|-
|Wild Hearts S
|
|
|-
|Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami 2
|
|
|-
|Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
|
|
|-
|Ys X: Proud Nordics
|
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Nintendo Switch]]
*[[GOG.com]]
*[[Stop Killing Games]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Nintendo]]
[[Category:Products]]

Age verification

2026-06-15T15:16:38Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Effectiveness */

{{Incomplete}}
{{See also|Forced identification|De-anonymization}}

'''[[wikipedia:Age_verification|Age Verification]]''' (AV), also referred to as '''Age Affirmation''' (AA) and '''Age gating''', is the process in where a business requires some form of identification to verify your age, a mass surveillance measure disguised as child safety to de-anonymize the internet. This is usually done for more explicit, mature content or social media. This practice has been widely spreading since the [[UK Online Safety Act|UK's Online Safety Act (OSA)]] has passed; requiring all individuals to verify themselves before accessing mature content. Ways of checking age include, but are not limited to: checking for a valid credit card, facial age estimation tools, government-issued ID, biometric data, account history behavior, and more.

As of December 2025, 25 US States require websites with mature content to verify age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Age Verification Laws - Action Center |url=https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/age-verification-resources/state-avs-laws/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228121257/https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/age-verification-resources/state-avs-laws/ |archive-date=2025-12-28 }}</ref>

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) reveals Meta Platforms spent $26.3 million on federal lobbying and funded a "grassroot" Digital Childhood Alliance group, with $0 to child safety<ref>{{Cite web |last=upper-up |date=2026-03-24 |title=Meta Platforms: Lobbying, Dark Money, and the App Store Accountability Act |url=https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260413033424/https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings |archive-date=2026-04-13 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=[[Github]]}}</ref>.

==How it works==

===Online Platform Age Verification===
When accessing a platform or website that may contain content not suitable for all audiences may force you to register for the platform along with verifying your age by one of the methods mentioned previously. Sites that likely don't use any form of account system will probably have a popup instead requiring you to verify your age before even serving the content you were trying to access.

===Operating System Age Verification===
New legislation now mandates [[wikipedia:Operating_system|operating systems (OS)]] to block the user until they verify their age. This is done "for convenience" so that apps and websites don't individually prompt the user, instead those apps/websites can just query the platform (e.g. OS, web-browser, etc...) without the user noticing.

==Why is this a problem?==
The Online Safety Act is already exerting extraterritorial control through the age‑verification and validation changes it prompts, which are being implemented in the U.S. even though those companies customer bases are not at all subject to UK law, even Europeans that are also not under UK law are affected. This stems from the Act’s vague, overly broad language requiring companies to comply whenever users are located in the UK. Because the law effectively ignores national borders, non‑UK companies face only two options: geo‑block affected content for UK users or apply the same verification measures globally.

Geo‑blocking would severely disrupt services and business relationships that where already in place with UK customers before the Online Safety Act, so many companies choose to implement the changes for all users resulting in practical overreach beyond the UK. A reason for this is Ofcom's<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-31 |title=What is Ofcom? |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-we-do/what-is-ofcom |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref> statutory powers to require platforms to use “accredited technology” to detect illegal content. As such systems would have to be implemented onto all the content this again would be an overreach of their perceived authorities. Companies that do not comply are already being fined for this.

Even if the UK Government has “paused” its demand for implementing “accredited technologies” there is no practical way to meet the vague requirement set out by Ofcom in the Online Safety Act. The proposal ignores that smaller companies would likely be forced to close under the financial burden of compliance, producing a sterilized market with reduced competition only firms with deep pockets can comply. That still does not prevent Ofcom from fining companies that fail to comply.

Examples:

Webpage 4chan<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Investigation into 4chan and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-4chan-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

AVS GROUP LIMITED<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-31 |title=Investigation into AVS Group Ltd’s compliance with the duty to prevent children from encountering pornographic content through the use of age assurance |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-avs-group-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

The provider of Im.ge<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Investigation into the provider of Im.ge and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-the-provider-of-im.ge-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

Youngtek Solutions Ltd<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-11 |title=Investigation into Youngtek Solutions Ltd’s compliance with the duty to prevent children from encountering pornographic content through the use of age assurance |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-youngtek-solutions-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

===Customer Profiling===
Having companies easily able to identify you means they can track you more efficiently and sell that shared profile to other companies such as ad agencies that then start targeting you specifically. Age data stored in a computer's operating system is another data being used for device fingerprinting<ref>{{Cite web |last=Costa |first=C. da |date=2026-03-16 |title=Reddit User Uncovers Who Is Behind Meta’s $2B Lobbying for Invasive Age Verification Tech |url=https://www.gadgetreview.com/reddit-user-uncovers-who-is-behind-metas-2b-lobbying-for-invasive-age-verification-tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415225107/https://www.gadgetreview.com/reddit-user-uncovers-who-is-behind-metas-2b-lobbying-for-invasive-age-verification-tech |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-05-01 |website=Gadget Review}}</ref>.

===Government overreach===
Governments can also more easily track online movements and find out who you are. Saying something that may go against their own agenda may end up with a police raid, heavy interrogation, and prison time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=John |date=2025-06-20 |title=China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/china-censorship-internet-id-hnk-intl#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a%20state%2Dled,an%20infrastructure%20of%20digital%20totalitarianism.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-09-04 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620233250/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/china-censorship-internet-id-hnk-intl |archive-date=2025-06-20 }}</ref>

===Censorship===
Certain topics, such as adult content, politics, and LGBT+ topics, will likely be unfairly censored by the governing body or company that has a say on what platform has the '''potential''' to be inappropriate for minors or other age groups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=Strict Age Verification Laws: Balancing Content Restriction and Educational Rights |url=https://www.thinkacademy.ca/blog/strict-age-verification-laws-impact-k12-education/#:~:text=Impact%20on%20K12,affect%20these%20groups |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Think Academy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018030711/https://www.thinkacademy.ca/blog/strict-age-verification-laws-impact-k12-education/ |archive-date=2025-10-18 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Jason |last2=Mackey |first2=Aaron |last3=Mullin |first3=Joe |date=2024-02-15 |title=Don’t Fall for the Latest Changes to the Dangerous Kids Online Safety Act |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215234054/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act |archive-date=2024-02-15 }}</ref>

Platforms that host this type of content may also be more proactive in deleting/hiding posts that may get them in trouble or fined by laws or policies by local governments, leading to a more censored internet where opinions are streamlined to fit a set narrative or outlook.<ref name=":0" />

===Increased inequality and denial of service===
Some stores, such as grocery stores, prohibit young people from viewing their web sites or using [[loyalty cards]], which provide discounts and digital coupons. Age verification means that young people and families where the young person does the shopping pay more for essentials like food.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pell |first=Miranda |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury's shoppers issued warning over little-known 'age limit' rules |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-lidl-sainsburys-shoppers-issued-30233318 |access-date=20 Sep 2025 |work=Manchester evening news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021121644/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-lidl-sainsburys-shoppers-issued-30233318 |archive-date=2025-10-21 }}</ref> Those who do not have ID, or do not chose to use it (for instance, those who fear domestic violence, or are members of a group subject to persecution) may also be locked out or have to pay more.

===Storage of private and biometric Information by age verification service providers===
A study commissioned by the Australian government found that age verification service providers accumulate a concerning amount of personal information, sometimes even biometric in nature, even when that was not necessary to provide the age verification service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastian |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Age Verification Providers are hoarding biometric Data] |url=https://netzpolitik.org/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903115436/https://netzpolitik.org/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/ |archive-date=2025-09-03 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastion |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Google Translate English Version] |url=https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251023063119/https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp |archive-date=2025-10-23 }}</ref>

===Age-gating===
Some applications or sites, such as [[Roblox]] use age-gating systems to segregate their users into age brackets. These brackets separate younger users from adults, but adults that are sexual predators can trick these systems to find easily the users they're targetting.

===Driving users towards smaller and completely unregulated offerings===
Big platforms can be regulated and forced to comply with applicable laws since they need to have infrastructure such as servers in all major markets. Only these will be affected by the age restriction requirement.

However, users who do not wish to compromise their privacy or who are not of age will then go looking towards smaller niche platforms, often in other regions not affected by the regulation or the [[wikipedia:Darknet|darknet]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kaleta |first=Miroslav |date=2025-08-20 |title=The Cost of Data Privacy Negligence (And How to Avoid It) |url=https://countly.com/blog/data-privacy-negligence#:~:text=2.%20Losing%20Customer,IBM%20Report. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217003447/https://countly.com/blog/data-privacy-negligence |archive-date=17 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Countly Blog}}</ref> With these offerings, there is little to no leverage with regards to removal of illegal content. Increased exposure to illegal content can then lead to both a strengthening of illegal content providers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Branley |first=Dawn |last2=Covey |first2=Judith |date=2016-06-06 |title=Is exposure to online content depicting risky behavior related to viewers' own risky behavior offline? |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303357 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403233150/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303357 |archive-date=2022-04-03 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=ScienceDirect}}</ref> and significantly increased danger to minors, who may not yet be able to differentiate between legal and illegal content as well as an adult.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth |url=https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416042251/https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |archive-date=2024-04-16 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=American Psychological Association}}</ref> 

===Increased damage from data breaches===
Platforms which implement age checks that require sensitive information such as a government-issued ID will likely be more of a target for cyber criminals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Cybercriminals Target These Industries the Most – Here’s Why and How to Stay Safe |url=https://brandefense.io/blog/cybercriminals-target-these-industries/#:~:text=The%20Most%20Vulnerable%20Industries%20to,information%20stored%20within%20their%20networks. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260119030330/https://brandefense.io/blog/cybercriminals-target-these-industries/ |archive-date=19 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Brandefense}}</ref> As more platforms comply with the age checks, it becomes more likely that a data breach on at least one of these platforms can reveal extremely sensitive information. In the case of a data breach, it can be catastrophic if users' sensitive information were exposed, which can likely result in identity theft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popov |first=Cristina |date=2023-03-22 |title=Why breaches can affect you long after they occur |url=https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/why-breaches-can-affect-you-long-after-they-occur#:~:text=%232%3A%20Breaches%20can,for%20online%20accounts. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104220250/https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/why-breaches-can-affect-you-long-after-they-occur |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Bitdefender}}</ref>

Platforms already experience major losses and consumer distrust from data breaches that reveal information less sensitive than government-issued IDs or biometric data.<ref name=":1" /> A data breach involving information this sensitive will seriously damage a business, and the users even more so. As stated previously, users who foresee these privacy risks will turn away from platforms which implement the policy, and towards niche platforms.

===Inaccuracy===
Research on age verification software that estimates age via face scans are often inaccurate, identifying children as adults or vice versa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ganel |first=Tzvi |date=2022-12-29 |title=Biases in human perception of facial age are present and more exaggerated in current AI technology |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27009-w |journal=Nature |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=22519 |via=Springer Nature}}</ref> These inaccurate estimations could lead to have to use more privacy-invasive methods like submitting a picture of a personal ID.

===Effectiveness===
Enforcement of the Online Safety Act or similar legislations worldwide are often ineffective as many users can reach to VPNs and other methods in order to protect their privacy online.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jarvie |first=Chelsea |date= |title=Online Age Verification: Government Legislation, Supplier Responsibilization, and Public Perceptions |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429505/ |journal=PubMed Central |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=1068 |via=National Library of Medicine}}</ref> E.g. children could trivially use or ask for their parents' IDs or credit cards to be falsely identified as an adult, and access restricted content.

===Limitation of control over owned devices===
Age verification at the operating system level, as implemented on [[Apple introduces OS-level age verification|iOS]] in some regions<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-05-28 |title=If you're asked to confirm that you’re an adult |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/125662 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260506175439/https://support.apple.com/en-us/125662 |archive-date=2026-05-06 |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Apple support}}</ref>, can prevent the device owner - even adults to freely use their device unless they submit sensitive data online. This can also prevent parents from configuring their children's devices to their liking or to create different profiles in case a device is used by multiple people.

===Threat to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)===
Age verification, especially identity verification, are fundamentally incompatible with the four essential freedoms of [[Free software movement|free software]]. Legislation that mandates nationwide operating system age verification could outlaw GNU/Linux, consolidating monopolistic power to proprietary operating systems<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trevino |first=Sam |date=2026-03-06 |title=Age Assurance Laws and the End of General Purpose Computing |url=https://samtrevino.substack.com/p/age-assurance-laws-and-the-end-of |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/age-assurance-laws-and-the-end-of-general-purpose-computing-report |archive-date=2026-03-11 |access-date=2026-05-01}}</ref>.

==Methods==
There are various methods used to verify and check the age of an user, being these the most common ones:

*'''Age attestation''': Consists of establishing the user's birthdate on their account or profile.
*'''ID check''': The most privacy-invasive method and the riskiest of all. It consists of sending a picture of a government-issued ID, a passport or a drivers licence.
*'''Live selfie''': It consists of a live recording of the user's face. It has been questioned for its effectiveness and accuracy.
*'''Credit card check''': Less privacy-invasive than an ID check or a live selfie, but very problematic because of potential card theft if a data leak occurs.
*'''Behavior prediction''': Used by some social media to estimate the user's age by its behavior on the platform using algorithms.

==Examples==
*[[YouTube age verification|YouTube's age verification]] and account estimation algorithm.

*[[Spotify]]'s Age affirmation for MA rated songs and content.

*[[Discord's Mandatory Age Verification|Discord's age verification]] for accounts determining what eligible servers are available.

*[[Roblox#ID & face scan age verification|Roblox's age verification]] and account estimation algorithm for talking with users of similar age.

==Alternatives==
These are more consumer-friendly alternatives to age verification that can protect consumer rights and younger users:
*Education about internet risks and usage of parental controls
*Internet service options that include the ability to block sites and configure parental controls to the liking of the user
*Mandate for social media the modification of their algorithms to prevent making the media addictive and the visibility of harmful and dangerous practices and the reinforcement of moderation and parental controls.

==External links==

*[https://agelesslinux.org/distros.html Ageless Linux — Distro Compliance Tracker]
*[https://github.com/BryanLunduke/DoesItAgeVerify GitHub BryanLunduke - List Tracking Operating Systems Not Implementing Age Verification]
*[https://www.eff.org/pages/age-verification-bills-are-unconstitutional EFF explains how OS-level age-verification is unconstitutional]
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8250/all-info All Information (Except Text) for H.R.8250 - Parents Decide Act]
*[https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Joint statement of scientists and researchers on Age Assurance - Open letter signed by academics, warning about age verification risks]
*[https://reclaimthenet.org/age-verification Say No to Online Age Verification at Reclaim The Net]

==See also==

*[[Chat Control]]
*[[Parents Decide Act]]
*[[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]

User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS

2026-06-14T22:50:49Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Clippy_says|'''Entornos Digitales de Seguridad Cuestionable: Lo que los gobiernos no quieren hablar sobre la prohibición de las redes sociales y la verificación de edad'''}}

La prohibición de las redes sociales para los menores de dieciséis años parece un objetivo noble. Pero los métodos y propuestas que se están proponiendo para "mantener la seguridad de los jóvenes" en Chile, son problemáticos y prácticas similares en otros países han sido cuestionadas y algunas han traído consecuencias graves como lo son filtraciones de datos sensibles como tarjetas de identificación.

==Inicios==
Todo comienza en el año 2023, con la aprobación de la [[anti-privacy legislation|legislación antiprivacidad]] conocida como [[UK Online Safety Act]], la cual fue aprobada ese mismo año. La ley fue creada para "proteger a los niños" del contenido dañino en línea, prohibiendo el acceso a contenido considerado como maduro o explícito. Los ciudadanos mayores de edad deben [[age verification|verificar su edad]] para poder acceder a sitios maduros, usualmente teniendo que comprometer su privacidad e información sensible teniendo que subir material biométrico o una foto de su tarjeta de identificación, licencia de conducir o pasaporte. La ley entra en vigencia en el año 2025, y desde entonces ha mostrado una gran cantidad de rechazo por parte de los ciudadanos británicos, evidenciado en picos de búsqueda de elusión de verificaciones de edad y descargas de [https://es.wikipedia.com/Red_privada_virtual| VPNs].

==La epidemia==
Desde la vigencia de la legislación británica en 2025, varias naciones siguieron rápidamente el ejemplo de Reino Unido. Países como Australia, Estados Unidos, España y Malasia han seguido la iniciativa para prohibirle el acceso a adolescentes a contenido como lo son las redes sociales o páginas con contenido explícito.

==La situación en Chile==
Según el último informe de Freedom On The Net (2025), Chile posee una puntuación en línea bastante alta, siendo esta de 87/100. De acuerdo a Cloudwards, la puntuación de Chile en términos de libertad en línea es de 84/100.
https://www.cloudwards.net/internet-censorship/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile

https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=84068
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728

==Observaciones sobre el proyecto de ley==
De acuerdo a los últimos avisos de la Ministra Wulf, se busca implementar verificación de edad mediante el sistema ya existente de ClaveÚnica, un sistema manejado por el Estado, el cual actualmente permite realizar trámites y acceder a los beneficios que ofrece el país.

===Países que el gobierno usa como referencia y sus polémicas===
El gobierno ha mencionado en un informe que busca utilizar a cuatro países como referentes, los cuales son España, Brasil, Francia y Australia.
====España====
(bloqueos de CloudFlare y multas por usar VPNs -TBA)
====Brasil====
Recientemente en Brasil entró en vigencia una ley que obliga a proveedores de '''sistemas operativos''' a implementar '''verificación de edad''' en estos sistemas para poder utilizar un dispositivo. Esto impide que una '''persona que compró y es dueña de un dispositivo''' tenga '''control total''' sobre el dispositivo que es '''legítimamente suyo'''.
====Australia====
(baneo a rrss cuestionado - TBA)
====Francia====
(filtración de datos sensibles de 19 millones de ciudadanos -TBA)

==Los problemas y riesgos==

===Atenta contra la Ley de Neutralidad de Red===
===El Estado toma control del internet===
Si se implementa verificación de edad mediante el sistema de ClaveÚnica, significa que '''el gobierno y el estado''' tienen control sobre los servicios de internet y datos móviles, reduciendo tu '''control y tus derechos''' como consumidor sobre el servicio que tú mismo estás pagando. Cualquier gobierno podría aprovecharse de esta situación y modificar el sistema para recopilar más datos de un ciudadano para ejercer control sobre el mismo.
===Censura arbitraria y expansión de prohibiciones===
La prohibición y restricción de las redes sociales puede ser el primer paso para expandir la censura a otras áreas, tal como actualmente se observa que el actual gobierno [https://example.com persigue activamente las páginas de casinos en línea]. En 2023, se anunció y se ingresó al senado [https://tramitacion.senado.cl/appsenado/templates/tramitacion/index.php?boletin_ini=16431-15 un proyecto de ley que busca exigir la adición de verificación de edad en páginas para adultos], el cual sería el equivalente a lo que comenzó siendo el Online Safety Act en Reino Unido.

Un gobierno o cualquier otra entidad que le disguste alguna publicación tuya en redes sociales podría '''silenciarte, perfilarte e incluso perseguirte''' por esto.

===Pérdida del anonimato en línea===
Personas que se encuentran en situación vulnerable como podría serlo vivir bajo violencia intrafamiliar o persecución podrían ser rastreadas y silenciadas con facilidad. Criminales e incluso servicios de inteligencia de otros países podrían utilizar los datos sensibles de los usuarios para perseguirlos o hacerse pasar por ellos.

===Riesgos de filtraciones de datos===
El hecho de enviar información en línea como lo es en este caso la ClaveÚnica, una credencial estrechamente vinculada con la identidad de una persona, puede fomentar a hackers a atacar la infraestructura y las bases de datos para suplantar la identidad de un usuario
===Expansión de las prohibiciones y mayor restricción de derechos===
* Tal como ha ocurrido con Reino Unido y el Online Safety Act o como ya ha ocurrido en el estado de Louisiana, el hecho de que haya usuarios eludiendo las verificaciones de edad mediante el uso de VPNs, existe una posibilidad de que las prohibiciones se expandan, prohibiendo lo que son las VPNs, software comúnmente utilizado para protegerse en línea y mantener la privacidad.
* También existe la posibilidad de que la ley termine alcanzando y restringiendo el acceso mediante verificación de edad a las páginas de contenido para adultos al igual que ya ocurre con la legislación británica.

==¿Hacia dónde debería apuntar la ley?==
Estas son algunas ideas que podrían proteger tanto los derechos de consumidor como a usuarios menores de edad:

* Obligar a empresas que proveen servicios de internet a incluir opciones de planes que contengan controles parentales integrados que los padres o cuidadores puedan configurar a su gusto para agregar restricciones en la red o en dispositivos que utilizan sus hijos, permitiéndoles bloquear los sitios que deseen.
* Obligar a los sitios web, en este caso, las redes sociales, a integrar un identificador que puedan detectar estos sistemas de control parental con facilidad para así bloquear los sitios de forma adecuada.
* Crear programas y sitios educativos para padres y cuidadores para enseñarles a utilizar los controles parentales de los servicios de internet.
* Crear una plataforma que permita realizar denuncias anónimas de acosos en internet, delincuencia en línea y presencia de contenido dañino.
* Obligar a las plataformas de redes sociales a modificar sus algoritmos para impedir que sean adictivos y promuevan el contenido dañino o peligroso, junto con obligarlas a mejorar sus sistemas de moderación para bloquear con mayor efectividad estos tipos de contenido.

==¿Quiénes están detrás de estas legislaciones controversiales?==
Se sabe que uno de los principales influyentes para la implementación de este tipo de leyes a nivel global es [[Meta]], quien se sabe que ha realizado lobbys en Estados Unidos para aprobar legislaciones que atentan contra la privacidad y los derechos de los usuarios.
También se ha visto que [[OpenAI]] ha estado realizando movimientos para impulsar leyes que promueven la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad.

==¿Qué puedes hacer?==
===Haz pasar la voz===
Muchas personas podrían no tener conocimiento o la noción sobre los impactos este proyecto de ley. Introducirles del tema permite visibilizar los riesgos, además de permitir que el gobierno o la ciudadanía propongan mejores soluciones para beneficiar a todas las partes. Comparte esta página, publica del problema en redes, habla con tus conocidos o familiares.

===Contacta a senadores, ministros y parlamentarios===
Cualquier forma de comunicación es mejor que mantener el silencio. Si no se informa del problema, aunque no se reciba respuesta alguna, se pensará que se está aceptando sin más. Contacta a los diputados que representen a tu región y a los senadores que te representen o a quienes busquen apoyar el proyecto de ley.

===Contacta o apoya a organizaciones que aboguen por los derechos de privacidad y libertad de expresión en línea===
Ejemplo: [https://reclaimthenet.org/ Reclaim The Net]

===Apoya o crea campañas===
Apoyar y crear campañas para promover una reforma, rechazo o remoción del proyecto de ley puede permitir que el gobierno tome nota de los problemas del proyecto.

===Protesta si es necesario===
Pero sin inducir al uso de violencia. La protesta y la desobediencia civil puede ser utilizada como llamado de atención hacia el gobierno. Usa una VPN para preservar tu privacidad.

==Enlaces externos==
* [https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Carta abierta por científicos y académicos explicando los problemas, peligros y riesgos de la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad]
==Referencias==
{{reflist}}

User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS

2026-06-14T22:47:54Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Clippy_says|'''Entornos Digitales de Seguridad Cuestionable: Lo que los gobiernos no quieren hablar sobre la prohibición de las redes sociales y la verificación de edad'''}}

La prohibición de las redes sociales para los menores de dieciséis años parece un objetivo noble. Pero los métodos y propuestas que se están proponiendo para "mantener la seguridad de los jóvenes" en Chile, son problemáticos y prácticas similares en otros países han sido cuestionadas y algunas han traído consecuencias graves como lo son filtraciones de datos sensibles como tarjetas de identificación.

==Inicios==
Todo comienza en el año 2023, con la aprobación de la [[anti-privacy legislation|legislación antiprivacidad]] conocida como [[UK Online Safety Act]], la cual fue aprobada ese mismo año. La ley fue creada para "proteger a los niños" del contenido dañino en línea, prohibiendo el acceso a contenido considerado como maduro o explícito. Los ciudadanos mayores de edad deben [[age verification|verificar su edad]] para poder acceder a sitios maduros, usualmente teniendo que comprometer su privacidad e información sensible teniendo que subir material biométrico o una foto de su tarjeta de identificación, licencia de conducir o pasaporte. La ley entra en vigencia en el año 2025, y desde entonces ha mostrado una gran cantidad de rechazo por parte de los ciudadanos británicos, evidenciado en picos de búsqueda de elusión de verificaciones de edad y descargas de [https://es.wikipedia.com/Red_privada_virtual| VPNs].

==La epidemia==
Desde la vigencia de la legislación británica en 2025, varias naciones siguieron rápidamente el ejemplo de Reino Unido. Países como Australia, Estados Unidos, España y Malasia han seguido la iniciativa para prohibirle el acceso a adolescentes a contenido como lo son las redes sociales o páginas con contenido explícito.

==La situación en Chile==
Según el último informe de Freedom On The Net (2025), Chile posee una puntuación en línea bastante alta, siendo esta de 87/100. De acuerdo a Cloudwards, la puntuación de Chile en términos de libertad en línea es de 84/100.
https://www.cloudwards.net/internet-censorship/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile

https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=84068
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728

==Observaciones sobre el proyecto de ley==
De acuerdo a los últimos avisos de la Ministra Wulf, se busca implementar verificación de edad mediante el sistema ya existente de ClaveÚnica, un sistema manejado por el Estado, el cual actualmente permite realizar trámites y acceder a los beneficios que ofrece el país.

===Países que el gobierno usa como referencia y sus polémicas===
El gobierno ha mencionado en un informe que busca utilizar a cuatro países como referentes, los cuales son España, Brasil, Francia y Australia.
====España====
(bloqueos de CloudFlare y multas por usar VPNs -TBA)
====Brasil====
Recientemente en Brasil entró en vigencia una ley que obliga a proveedores de '''sistemas operativos''' a implementar '''verificación de edad''' en estos sistemas para poder utilizar un dispositivo. Esto impide que una '''persona que compró y es dueña de un dispositivo''' tenga '''control total''' sobre el dispositivo que es '''legítimamente suyo'''.
====Australia====
(baneo a rrss cuestionado - TBA)
====Francia====
(filtración de datos sensibles de 19 millones de ciudadanos -TBA)

==Los problemas y riesgos==

===Atenta contra la Ley de Neutralidad de Red===
===El Estado toma control del internet===
Si se implementa verificación de edad mediante el sistema de ClaveÚnica, significa que '''el gobierno y el estado''' tienen control sobre los servicios de internet y datos móviles, reduciendo tu '''control y tus derechos''' como consumidor sobre el servicio que tú mismo estás pagando. Cualquier gobierno podría aprovecharse de esta situación y modificar el sistema para recopilar más datos de un ciudadano para ejercer control sobre el mismo.
===Censura arbitraria y expansión de prohibiciones===
La prohibición y restricción de las redes sociales puede ser el primer paso para expandir la censura a otras áreas, tal como actualmente se observa que el actual gobierno [https://example.com persigue activamente las páginas de casinos en línea]. En 2023, se anunció y se ingresó al senado [https://tramitacion.senado.cl/appsenado/templates/tramitacion/index.php?boletin_ini=16431-15 un proyecto de ley que busca exigir la adición de verificación de edad en páginas para adultos], el cual sería el equivalente a lo que comenzó siendo el Online Safety Act en Reino Unido.

Un gobierno o cualquier otra entidad que le disguste alguna publicación tuya en redes sociales podría '''silenciarte, perfilarte e incluso perseguirte''' por esto.

===Pérdida del anonimato en línea===
Personas que se encuentran en situación vulnerable como podría serlo vivir bajo violencia intrafamiliar o persecución podrían ser rastreadas y silenciadas con facilidad. Criminales e incluso servicios de inteligencia de otros países podrían utilizar los datos sensibles de los usuarios para perseguirlos o hacerse pasar por ellos.

===Riesgos de filtraciones de datos===
El hecho de enviar información en línea como lo es en este caso la ClaveÚnica, una credencial estrechamente vinculada con la identidad de una persona, puede fomentar a hackers a atacar la infraestructura y las bases de datos para suplantar la identidad de un usuario
===Expansión de las prohibiciones y mayor restricción de derechos===
* Tal como ha ocurrido con Reino Unido y el Online Safety Act o como ya ha ocurrido en el estado de Louisiana, el hecho de que haya usuarios eludiendo las verificaciones de edad mediante el uso de VPNs, existe una posibilidad de que las prohibiciones se expandan, prohibiendo lo que son las VPNs, software comúnmente utilizado para protegerse en línea y mantener la privacidad.
* También existe la posibilidad de que la ley termine alcanzando y restringiendo el acceso mediante verificación de edad a las páginas de contenido para adultos al igual que ya ocurre con la legislación británica.

==¿Hacia dónde debería apuntar la ley?==
Estas son algunas ideas que podrían proteger tanto los derechos de consumidor como a usuarios menores de edad:

* Obligar a empresas que proveen servicios de internet a incluir opciones de planes que contengan controles parentales integrados que los padres o cuidadores puedan configurar a su gusto para agregar restricciones en la red o en dispositivos que utilizan sus hijos, permitiéndoles bloquear los sitios que deseen.
* Obligar a los sitios web, en este caso, las redes sociales, a integrar un identificador que puedan detectar estos sistemas de control parental con facilidad para así bloquear los sitios de forma adecuada.
* Crear programas y sitios educativos para padres y cuidadores para enseñarles a utilizar los controles parentales de los servicios de internet.
* Multar a padres o cuidadores cuyos hijos menores de 16 años presenten evidentes señales de fuerte adicción a redes sociales. Estas señales serían verificadas mediante análisis psicológicos.
* Crear una plataforma que permita realizar denuncias anónimas de acosos en internet, delincuencia en línea y presencia de contenido dañino.
* Obligar a las plataformas de redes sociales a modificar sus algoritmos para impedir que sean adictivos y promuevan el contenido dañino o peligroso, junto con obligarlas a mejorar sus sistemas de moderación para bloquear con mayor efectividad estos tipos de contenido.

==¿Quiénes están detrás de estas legislaciones controversiales?==
Se sabe que uno de los principales influyentes para la implementación de este tipo de leyes a nivel global es [[Meta]], quien se sabe que ha realizado lobbys en Estados Unidos para aprobar legislaciones que atentan contra la privacidad y los derechos de los usuarios.
También se ha visto que [[OpenAI]] ha estado realizando movimientos para impulsar leyes que promueven la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad.

==¿Qué puedes hacer?==
===Haz pasar la voz===
Muchas personas podrían no tener conocimiento o la noción sobre los impactos este proyecto de ley. Introducirles del tema permite visibilizar los riesgos, además de permitir que el gobierno o la ciudadanía propongan mejores soluciones para beneficiar a todas las partes. Comparte esta página, publica del problema en redes, habla con tus conocidos o familiares.

===Contacta a senadores, ministros y parlamentarios===
Cualquier forma de comunicación es mejor que mantener el silencio. Si no se informa del problema, aunque no se reciba respuesta alguna, se pensará que se está aceptando sin más. Contacta a los diputados que representen a tu región y a los senadores que te representen o a quienes busquen apoyar el proyecto de ley.

===Contacta o apoya a organizaciones que aboguen por los derechos de privacidad y libertad de expresión en línea===
Ejemplo: [https://reclaimthenet.org/ Reclaim The Net]

===Apoya o crea campañas===
Apoyar y crear campañas para promover una reforma, rechazo o remoción del proyecto de ley puede permitir que el gobierno tome nota de los problemas del proyecto.

===Protesta si es necesario===
Pero sin inducir al uso de violencia. La protesta y la desobediencia civil puede ser utilizada como llamado de atención hacia el gobierno. Usa una VPN para preservar tu privacidad.

==Enlaces externos==
* [https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Carta abierta por científicos y académicos explicando los problemas, peligros y riesgos de la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad]
==Referencias==
{{reflist}}

OpenAI

2026-06-14T18:02:04Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: added Brave source for ChatGPT Atlas and prompt-injection vulnerability

{{stub}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2015
|Industry=AI
|Logo=OpenAI logo.svg
|Type=Private
|Website=https://openai.com/
|Description=OpenAI is an AI focused company that owns ChatGPT.
}}

'''[[wikipedia:OpenAI|OpenAI]]'''<ref>[https://openai.com/ OpenAI Landing Page] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260217225454/https://openai.com/ Archived])</ref> is an American [[AI]] focused company. Founded in December 2015, OpenAI is best known for their [[ChatGPT]] chatbot, also known for the Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) family of large language models, the DALL-E series of text-to-image models, and Sora, a text-to-video model. With a reported revenue of $10B in FY2025 <ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=10 Jun 2025 |title=OpenAI's annualized revenue hits $10 billion, up from $5.5 billion in December 2024 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/openais-annualized-revenue-hits-10-billion-up-55-billion-december-2024-2025-06-09/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610051847/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/openais-annualized-revenue-hits-10-billion-up-55-billion-december-2024-2025-06-09/ |archive-date=2025-06-10 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Reuters}}</ref> and approximately 5.5B visitors per month<ref>[https://www.semrush.com/website/chatgpt.com/overview/ ChatGPT monthly traffic] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260114194134/https://www.semrush.com/website/chatgpt.com/overview/ Archived])</ref>, OpenAI has positioned itself has a leader in the Generative AI industry. 

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
*Misleading advertising. ChatGPT terms of service say it should not be used to make decisions about people. However their advertising claims it is "PhD level" and makes other claims that seem to imply it is reliable. Many people use ChatGPT as if its output were meaningful, reliable, or a substitute for interaction with a person.
*Credits (money) expire automatically with no notification, and the credit balance interface makes this process confusing. You must maintain a positive account balance, and you are auto-billed a fixed amount if it goes negative. Accounts can be banned and credits confiscated for typing the wrong things in chat, with no recourse.
*A mobile phone number in a friendly country is required to better track your identity.

This is what '''OpenAI''' says as part of their data usage policy:

''We share content with a select group of trusted service providers that help us provide our services. We share the minimum amount of content we need in order to accomplish this purpose and our service providers are subject to strict confidentiality and security obligations. We do not use or share user content for marketing or advertising purposes.''

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Web Crawlers ignoring robots.txt (2025)===
In 2025, Jonathan Bailey from PlagiarismToday posted an article going into how ChatGPTs web crawlers were ignoring the sites Robots.txt file.<ref>https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2025/07/23/chatgpt-ignores-robots-txt-rehashes-my-column/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260106080839/https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2025/07/23/chatgpt-ignores-robots-txt-rehashes-my-column/ Archived])</ref> PlaigarismToday had blocked OpenAI's web crawlers in August of 2023, yet the latest ChatGPT model at the time provided data from articles that were posted the day before on the website, even though OpenAI wasn't supposed to be scraping those webpages. This can be problematic for smaller websites, due to OpenAI's aggressive approach to web crawling, with their crawlers reportedly in a single week sending in more than 29 thousand requests to a wiki known as The Cutting Room Floor.

===ChatGPT Atlas and prompt-injection vulnerability (2025)===
In 2025, Brave posted an article about vulnerabilities that have agentic web browsers, such as ChatGPT Atlas, that consists of adding hidden malicious prompts in files, text or another media. Those prompts, combined with weak safeguards of the AI agents, can make them to expose and leak sensitive data of the user.<ref>https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/PromptInjection ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260210124436/https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/PromptInjection Archived])</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaul Sahib |first=Shivan |last2=Chaikin |first2=Artem |date=21 Oct 2025 |title=Unseeable prompt injections in screenshots: more vulnerabilities in Comet and other AI browsers |url=https://brave.com/blog/unseeable-prompt-injections/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251027012608/https://brave.com/blog/unseeable-prompt-injections/ |archive-date=2025-10-27 |access-date=14 Jun 2026 |website=Brave}}</ref>

===Funding of the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act and creation of a child safety organization (2026)===
In January 2026, OpenAI partnered with Common Sense Media and funded approximately $10 million dollars to support the California [[Parents & Kids Safe AI Act]] bill. The bill proposes to add [[age verification]], improvement of parental controls, and to prohibit [[Personalized ads|targeted advertising]] to underage users. On January 8, OpenAI created an organization, named Parents & Kids Safe AI Coalition.

In March 2026, the OpenAI's organization sent emails to child safety coalitions, only mentioning it was sponsored by Common Sense Media. The purpose of these e-mails was to convince the child safety coalitions to support the bill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dellinger |first=AG |date=1 Apr 2026 |title=Group Pushing Age Verification Requirements for AI Turns Out to Be Sneakily Backed by OpenAI |url=https://gizmodo.com/group-pushing-age-verification-requirements-for-ai-turns-out-to-be-sneakily-backed-by-openai-2000741069 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260401225238/https://gizmodo.com/group-pushing-age-verification-requirements-for-ai-turns-out-to-be-sneakily-backed-by-openai-2000741069 |archive-date=2026-04-01 |access-date=4 Apr 2026 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shugerman|first=Emily |date=1 Apr 2026 |title=Kids groups say they didn’t know OpenAI was behind their child safety coalition |url=https://sfstandard.com/2026/04/01/openai-ai-kids-safety-coalition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/g4oN8|archive-date=2026-04-04 |access-date=4 Apr 2026 |website=The San Francisco Standard}}</ref>

==Products==

===DALL-E models:===

===GPT models:===

*[[ChatGPT-4o]] series (4o/4o-mini)
*GPT-5 series of LLMs (GPT5/5.1/5.2/5.3/5.4/5.5/5-mini/5.3-mini))

===Sora models:===

* Sora
* Sora 2

===Misc.:===
*[[ChatGPT]]
*ChatGPT Atlas browser

==See also==

*[[Anthropic]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Claude

2026-06-14T17:37:00Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: added "External links" section and added clawd.rip link

{{StubNotice}}
{{ProductCargo
|Company=Anthropic
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2023
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Software, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Large Language Models
|Website=https://claude.ai/
|Description=American language model developed by Anthropic that will ask for identity verification for new accounts or accessing advanced features. Identity verifications are provided by Persona.
|Logo=Claude AI logo.svg
}}

'''Claude''' is a generative artificial intelligence, a large language model (LLM) developed and released by [[Anthropic]]. It was created with the objective of being a safe AI for the public. Claude family includes Haiku, a fast and cheaper model, Sonnet, a more complex model capable of completing more complex tasks, and Opus, their most advanced model.

==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
===Business model===
Free tier users have a limited access to only one version of the LLM. The LLM token limit ends after generating some messages, but the platform doesn't specify how much tokens or credits are left. Some experimental or advanced features of Claude can be very limited for free users or is just paywalled.{{Citation needed}}

===Third-party usage===
Anthropic provides two ways of accessing their LLMs: subscriptions and direct API usage. API pricing is simple: you pay for what you use. By paying for a subscription you can get up to 13.5x worth of API usage — a "Max" subscription costs $200 per month but allows users to use up to $3,000 worth of actual API costs [[https://she-llac.com/claude-limits source]]. However paying for a subscription means user is locked into Anthropic's tools only — either their web app or desktop app (Claude Code). Several talented engineers managed to hijack the behavior of Anthropic's tools and hence use limits of their subscriptions in third-party tools. Anthropic responded by changing their policies and banning any suspicions of account subscriptions being used outside of their first-party applications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zolkos |first=Rob |title=Rob Zolkos on X |url=https://x.com/robzolkos/status/2024125323755884919 |website=[[X]] |date=18 Feb 2026 |access-date=22 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0423-0816-27/https://x.com:443/robzolkos/status/2024125323755884919 |archive-date=23 Apr 2026}}</ref> Several users on [[X]] complained about being banned even without ever taking part in such activities, namely those who have used multiple accounts with named subscription on the same computer.{{Citation needed}}

====DMCA====
Anthropic's most popular product, Claude Code, is closed-source, meaning the actual code used to make the application is not public. Additionally the distributed version of said application is obfuscated. Obfuscation is a common process used in order to make reading code more difficult, essentially impossible without the use of reverse-engineering tools. In 2025 Anthropic accidentally published "source maps" of the application, aiding in mapping the obfuscated code to its original form. Some developers posted said information online, to which Anthropic responded with [[DMCA]] claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiggers |first=Kyle |title=Anthropic sent a takedown notice to a dev trying to reverse-engineer its coding tool |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/25/anthropic-sent-a-takedown-notice-to-a-dev-trying-to-reverse-engineer-its-coding-tool/ |website=TechCrunch |date=25 Apr 2025 |access-date=22 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425220915/https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/25/anthropic-sent-a-takedown-notice-to-a-dev-trying-to-reverse-engineer-its-coding-tool/ |archive-date=25 Apr 2025}}</ref> [[GitHub]], a platform for sharing code, keeps a [https://github.com/github/dmca track of DMCA claims] and makes them public.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Code search results |url=https://github.com/search?q=repo%3Agithub%2Fdmca%20anthropic&type=code |url-access=registration |website=[[GitHub]]
|date=
|access-date=
|url-status=live
|archive-url=
|archive-date=
}}</ref>

====Privacy====
In order to use the LLM, a person must sign in with an e-mail address or to log in with a [[Google]] account, as well as obligatorily verify a smartphone number.<ref>{{Cite web |author=
|title=Verifying your phone number {{!}} Claude Help Center |url=https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8287232-verifying-your-phone-number |website=Claude |date=24 Mar 2026 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260408203422/https://support.claude.com/en/articles/8287232-verifying-your-phone-number |archive-date=8 Apr 2026}}</ref>

Anthropic may use input and output data from their services to train their AI models. Users are able to opt-out if they want to. However, Anthropic may still collect inputs and outputs that belong to conversations that have been flagged for safety review or content that has been reported by the user.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://www.anthropic.com/legal/privacy |website=[[Anthropic]] |date=20 Mar 2023 |access-date=27 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211053754/https://www.anthropic.com/legal/privacy |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===ID verification for newer accounts and access of advanced features (''April 2026'')===
In April 2026, Anthropic announced they would implement identity verification that are done by the third-party provider [[Persona]] "for a few use cases" to access to advanced features and to verify new accounts created. The reason given was to "prevent abuse, enforce our usage policies and comply with legal obligations" (at a moment there's no currently known legislation in the US or any country that enforces AI companies to ask for identity verification). The purpose for the ID verification is "to confirm who you are and not for any other purposes".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Pirat_Nation |title=Pirat_Nation on X |url=https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2044960285510053929 |website=[[X]] |date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0423-0855-24/https://x.com:443/Pirat_Nation/status/2044960285510053929 |archive-date=23 Apr 2026}}</ref>

===Tests for removing Claude Code features from Pro subscription tier (''April 2026'')===
In April 2026, users reported on social media that the Claude pricing page shows that Claude Code is not supported in the Pro subscription tier. After the reports from users, Anthropic replied that this was caused by a modification done for testing purposes, affecting 2% of the users visiting the site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axon |first=Samuel |title=Anthropic tested removing Claude Code from the Pro plan |url=https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/04/anthropic-tested-removing-claude-code-from-the-pro-plan/ |website=Ars Technica |date=22 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260422235948/https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/04/anthropic-tested-removing-claude-code-from-the-pro-plan/ |archive-date=22 Apr 2026}}</ref>

==External links==
* [https://clawd.rip Clawd.rip - Everything that went wrong with Claude]

==See also==
*[[OpenAI]]
*[[Artificial intelligence]]
*[[ChatGPT]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}| ]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-14T03:37:12Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Consumer response */

User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS

2026-06-14T02:16:05Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Clippy_says|'''Entornos Digitales de Seguridad Cuestionable: Lo que los gobiernos no quieren hablar sobre la prohibición de las redes sociales y la verificación de edad'''}}

La prohibición de las redes sociales para los menores de dieciséis años parece un objetivo noble. Pero los métodos y propuestas que se están proponiendo para "mantener la seguridad de los jóvenes" en Chile, son problemáticos y prácticas similares en otros países han sido cuestionadas y algunas han traído consecuencias graves como lo son filtraciones de datos sensibles como tarjetas de identificación.

==Inicios==
Todo comienza en el año 2023, con la aprobación de la [[anti-privacy legislation|legislación antiprivacidad]] conocida como [[UK Online Safety Act]], la cual fue aprobada ese mismo año. La ley fue creada para "proteger a los niños" del contenido dañino en línea, prohibiendo el acceso a contenido considerado como maduro o explícito. Los ciudadanos mayores de edad deben [[age verification|verificar su edad]] para poder acceder a sitios maduros, usualmente teniendo que comprometer su privacidad e información sensible teniendo que subir material biométrico o una foto de su tarjeta de identificación, licencia de conducir o pasaporte. La ley entra en vigencia en el año 2025, y desde entonces ha mostrado una gran cantidad de rechazo por parte de los ciudadanos británicos, evidenciado en picos de búsqueda de elusión de verificaciones de edad y descargas de [https://es.wikipedia.com/Red_privada_virtual| VPNs].

==La epidemia==
Desde la vigencia de la legislación británica en 2025, varias naciones siguieron rápidamente el ejemplo de Reino Unido. Países como Australia, Estados Unidos, España y Malasia han seguido la iniciativa para prohibirle el acceso a adolescentes a contenido como lo son las redes sociales o páginas con contenido explícito.

==La situación en Chile==
Según el último informe de Freedom On The Net (2025), Chile posee una puntuación en línea bastante alta, siendo esta de 87/100. De acuerdo a Cloudwards, la puntuación de Chile en términos de libertad en línea es de 84/100.
https://www.cloudwards.net/internet-censorship/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile

https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=84068
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728

==Observaciones sobre el proyecto de ley==
De acuerdo a los últimos avisos de la Ministra Wulf, se busca implementar verificación de edad mediante el sistema ya existente de ClaveÚnica, un sistema manejado por el Estado, el cual actualmente permite realizar trámites y acceder a los beneficios que ofrece el país.

===Países que el gobierno usa como referencia y sus polémicas===
El gobierno ha mencionado en un informe que busca utilizar a cuatro países como referentes, los cuales son España, Brasil, Francia y Australia.
====España====
(bloqueos de CloudFlare y multas por usar VPNs -TBA)
====Brasil====
Recientemente en Brasil entró en vigencia una ley que obliga a proveedores de '''sistemas operativos''' a implementar '''verificación de edad''' en estos sistemas para poder utilizar un dispositivo. Esto impide que una '''persona que compró y es dueña de un dispositivo''' tenga '''control total''' sobre el dispositivo que es '''legítimamente suyo'''.
====Australia====
(baneo a rrss cuestionado - TBA)
====Francia====
(filtración de datos sensibles de 16 millones de ciudadanos -TBA)
==Los problemas y riesgos==

===Atenta contra la Ley de Neutralidad de Red===
===El Estado toma control del internet===
Si se implementa verificación de edad mediante el sistema de ClaveÚnica, significa que '''el gobierno y el estado''' tienen control sobre los servicios de internet y datos móviles, reduciendo tu '''control y tus derechos''' como consumidor sobre el servicio que tú mismo estás pagando. Cualquier gobierno podría aprovecharse de esta situación y modificar el sistema para recopilar más datos de un ciudadano para ejercer control sobre el mismo.
===Censura arbitraria y expansión de prohibiciones===
La prohibición y restricción de las redes sociales puede ser el primer paso para expandir la censura a otras áreas, tal como actualmente se observa que el actual gobierno [https://example.com persigue activamente las páginas de casinos en línea]. En 2023, se anunció y se ingresó al senado [https://tramitacion.senado.cl/appsenado/templates/tramitacion/index.php?boletin_ini=16431-15 un proyecto de ley que busca exigir la adición de verificación de edad en páginas para adultos], el cual sería el equivalente a lo que comenzó siendo el Online Safety Act en Reino Unido.

Un gobierno o cualquier otra entidad que le disguste alguna publicación tuya en redes sociales podría '''silenciarte, perfilarte e incluso perseguirte''' por esto.

===Pérdida del anonimato en línea===
Personas que se encuentran en situación vulnerable como podría serlo vivir bajo violencia intrafamiliar o persecución podrían ser rastreadas y silenciadas con facilidad. Criminales e incluso servicios de inteligencia de otros países podrían utilizar los datos sensibles de los usuarios para perseguirlos o hacerse pasar por ellos.

===Riesgos de filtraciones de datos===
El hecho de enviar información en línea como lo es en este caso la ClaveÚnica, una credencial estrechamente vinculada con la identidad de una persona, puede fomentar a hackers a atacar la infraestructura y las bases de datos para suplantar la identidad de un usuario
===Expansión de las prohibiciones y mayor restricción de derechos===
* Tal como ha ocurrido con Reino Unido y el Online Safety Act o como ya ha ocurrido en el estado de Louisiana, el hecho de que haya usuarios eludiendo las verificaciones de edad mediante el uso de VPNs, existe una posibilidad de que las prohibiciones se expandan, prohibiendo lo que son las VPNs, software comúnmente utilizado para protegerse en línea y mantener la privacidad.
* También existe la posibilidad de que la ley termine alcanzando y restringiendo el acceso mediante verificación de edad a las páginas de contenido para adultos al igual que ya ocurre con la legislación británica.

==¿Hacia dónde debería apuntar la ley?==
Estas son algunas ideas que podrían proteger tanto los derechos de consumidor como a usuarios menores de edad:

* Obligar a empresas que proveen servicios de internet a incluir opciones de planes que contengan controles parentales integrados que los padres o cuidadores puedan configurar a su gusto para agregar restricciones en la red o en dispositivos que utilizan sus hijos, permitiéndoles bloquear los sitios que deseen.
* Obligar a los sitios web, en este caso, las redes sociales, a integrar un identificador que puedan detectar estos sistemas de control parental con facilidad para así bloquear los sitios de forma adecuada.
* Crear programas y sitios educativos para padres y cuidadores para enseñarles a utilizar los controles parentales de los servicios de internet.
* Multar a padres o cuidadores cuyos hijos menores de 16 años presenten evidentes señales de fuerte adicción a redes sociales. Estas señales serían verificadas mediante análisis psicológicos.
* Crear una plataforma que permita realizar denuncias anónimas de acosos en internet, delincuencia en línea y presencia de contenido dañino.
* Obligar a las plataformas de redes sociales a modificar sus algoritmos para impedir que sean adictivos y promuevan el contenido dañino o peligroso, junto con obligarlas a mejorar sus sistemas de moderación para bloquear con mayor efectividad estos tipos de contenido.

==¿Quiénes están detrás de estas legislaciones controversiales?==
Se sabe que uno de los principales influyentes para la implementación de este tipo de leyes a nivel global es [[Meta]], quien se sabe que ha realizado lobbys en Estados Unidos para aprobar legislaciones que atentan contra la privacidad y los derechos de los usuarios.
También se ha visto que [[OpenAI]] ha estado realizando movimientos para impulsar leyes que promueven la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad.

==¿Qué puedes hacer?==
===Haz pasar la voz===
Muchas personas podrían no tener conocimiento o la noción sobre los impactos este proyecto de ley. Introducirles del tema permite visibilizar los riesgos, además de permitir que el gobierno o la ciudadanía propongan mejores soluciones para beneficiar a todas las partes. Comparte esta página, publica del problema en redes, habla con tus conocidos o familiares.

===Contacta a senadores, ministros y parlamentarios===
Cualquier forma de comunicación es mejor que mantener el silencio. Si no se informa del problema, aunque no se reciba respuesta alguna, se pensará que se está aceptando sin más. Contacta a los diputados que representen a tu región y a los senadores que te representen o a quienes busquen apoyar el proyecto de ley.

===Contacta o apoya a organizaciones que aboguen por los derechos de privacidad y libertad de expresión en línea===
Ejemplo: [https://reclaimthenet.org/ Reclaim The Net]

===Apoya o crea campañas===
Apoyar y crear campañas para promover una reforma, rechazo o remoción del proyecto de ley puede permitir que el gobierno tome nota de los problemas del proyecto.

===Protesta si es necesario===
Pero sin inducir al uso de violencia. La protesta y la desobediencia civil puede ser utilizada como llamado de atención hacia el gobierno. Usa una VPN para preservar tu privacidad.

==Enlaces externos==
* [https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Carta abierta por científicos y académicos explicando los problemas, peligros y riesgos de la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad]
==Referencias==
{{reflist}}

UK Online Safety Act

2026-06-13T20:58:27Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Discord Third-Party Customer Service (5CA) */ added link to main article incident

{{IncidentCargo
|StartDate=2023-10-26
|Status=Active
|Type=Digital restrictions
|Description=On 26 October 2023, the UK Online Safety Act passed and became law. This act restricts the freedom of UK users of the internet and increases censorship.
|ArticleType=Legislation}}

United Kingdom's [[wikipedia:Online Safety Act 2023|Online Safety Act 2023]] (OSA) is a set of laws that claims to protect children and adults online.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2025 |title=Online Safety Act: explainer |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer |website=Gov.uk |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221095654/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> The act applies to search services and services that allow users to post content online or to interact with each other ([https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#section-4 Section 4]).

One of the duties of the act requires affected websites to implement their own solution for identity verification such that it is highly effective to prove one's age ([https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#section-12-6 Section 12.6]). There is no official government-sanctioned identity verification platform. Each service provider must implement their own solution or find a third party solution to use to remain compliant. Another duty filters non-verified users from interacting with content made from an "adult user" ([https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#section-15-10 Section 15.10]).<ref name="rossmann:1">{{Cite web|date=August 1, 2025|last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Tea app & UK Online Safety Act - the world is becoming a black mirror episode :(| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNsCuEvR5w&t=114 |ref=rossmann:1 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=August 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=TNNsCuEvR5w |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> These non-verified users will also be less visible, provided the adult user has toggled it.

While the press release says "the measures platforms have to put in place must confirm your age without collecting or storing personal data, unless absolutely necessary,"<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Kyle |first=Peter |date=2025-08-01 |title=Keeping children safe online: changes to the Online Safety Act explained |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/keeping-children-safe-online-changes-to-the-online-safety-act-explained |access-date=2025-08-16 |work=Gov.UK |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219223922/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/keeping-children-safe-online-changes-to-the-online-safety-act-explained |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref> the legislation requires that companies track usage by specific people and provide data and/or remote access to Ofcom on demand ([https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#section-100 Section 100]) <ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=2025-07-25 |title=Online Safety Act 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50 |journal=UK Public General Acts |volume=2023 |issue=50 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124060534/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50 |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref>
Enforcement of this act is done by the UK's Office of Communications (Ofcom). The penalty for breaking these rules is the greater of £18 million and 10% of the person’s qualifying worldwide revenue ([https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#schedule-13-paragraph-4 Schedule 13.4]).<ref name=":1" />

==Background==
The Online Safety Act is a "Bill to make provision for and in connection with the regulation by Ofcom of certain internet services; for and in connection with communications offences; and for connected purposes".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Online Safety Act 2023 |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137 |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=UK Parliament: Parliamentary Bills |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260118092704/https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137 |archive-date=18 Jan 2026}}</ref>

The Online Safety Act received royal assent on 26 October 2023, following five years of work by Carnegie UK, working in concert with over 50 partners. In 2018, Carnegie UK published a series of blogs by William Perrin and Professor Lorna Woods, outlining the proposal for social media regulation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=Tackling Online Harms |url=https://carnegieuk.org/programmes/online-harms/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225063325/https://carnegieuk.org/programmes/online-harms/ |archive-date=2024-12-25 |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=Carnegie UK}}</ref> The UK Government published its [https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/online-harms-white-paper White Paper] on 8 April 2019, tackling online harm, with a duty of care approach at its core. Carnegie UK ended their work on the Online Safety Act in October 2023.<ref name="online-safety-and-carnegie-uk">{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Sarah |date=26 October 2023 |title=Online safety and Carnegie UK |url=https://carnegieuk.org/blog/online-safety-and-carnegie-uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701203854/https://carnegieuk.org/blog/online-safety-and-carnegie-uk/ |archive-date=2025-07-01 |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=Carnegie UK}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Kate |date=August 7, 2025| title=The Online Safety Act Has Nothing to Do With Child Safety and Everything to Do With Censorship| url=https://novaramedia.com/2025/08/07/the-online-safety-act-has-nothing-to-do-with-child-safety-and-everything-to-do-with-censorship/ |website=Novara Media |access-date=August 25, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120092729/https://novaramedia.com/2025/08/07/the-online-safety-act-has-nothing-to-do-with-child-safety-and-everything-to-do-with-censorship/ |archive-date=20 Jan 2026}}</ref>

The bill was sponsored by Michelle Donelan, the (now former) Conservative MP for Chippenham and Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, a current member of the House of Lords. Both on behalf of the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.<ref name=":4" />

The Online Safety Act is one act in two different stages. The original that reached royal assent on 26 October 2023 under Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, and the amended version in 2025, under Kier Starmer's Labour government. In February 2025, amendments related to making corporations more accountable for the content on their websites, as well as accountability for people accessing inappropriate content were brought to and voted on in parliament. The bill was changed again in May 2025 to include biometric face scans and government ID requirements, which was was not voted on in parliament.

[https://avpassociation.com/ Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA)] was formed in 2018 and is growing rapidly as the age and identity provider industry takes off. It represents all main technology suppliers who have invested in the development of age verification solutions to support the implementation of age restrictions online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Age Verification Providers Association |url=https://avpassociation.com/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220181305/https://avpassociation.com/ |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==The impact==
Since the UK Online Safety Act applies to search services and services that allow users to post content online or to interact with each other,<ref name=":2" /> it has a broad impact across the entire internet for those accessing websites from within the UK. All online services that Ofcom deems to be within the scope of the Online Safety Act must incorporate an identity verification process to determine each user's age.<ref name=":3" /> This has forced many websites to geo-block the UK because they are too small to justify or afford implementing their own the identity verification process or partnering with a third provider. A list of affected websites is available on [https://OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk].

The broad range of the act has caused content from breaking news,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Koopman |first=Saskia |date=August 13, 2025 |title=Why the Online Safety Act has become a political nightmare |url=https://www.cityam.com/why-labours-online-safety-act-has-become-a-political-nightmare/ |website=City AM |access-date=August 25, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208042013/https://www.cityam.com/why-labours-online-safety-act-has-become-a-political-nightmare/ |archive-date=8 Dec 2025}}</ref> war footages,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maiberg |first=Emanuel |date=July 29, 2025 |title=UK Users Need to Post Selfie or Photo ID to View Reddit's r/IsraelCrimes, r/UkraineWarFootage |url=https://www.404media.co/uk-users-need-to-post-selfie-or-photo-id-to-view-reddits-r-israelcrimes-r-ukrainewarfootage/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216122744/https://www.404media.co/uk-users-need-to-post-selfie-or-photo-id-to-view-reddits-r-israelcrimes-r-ukrainewarfootage/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2026|access-date=August 25, 2025 |website=404 Media}}</ref> and political videos<ref name=":6" /> to be heavily suppressed and labelled "harmful".

===Spotify===
To view age-restricted content on [[Spotify]], users in the UK are now asked for facial scanning; if that fails, only ID verification can correct the error.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cole |first=Samantha |title=Spotify Is Forcing Users to Undergo Face Scanning to Access Explicit Content |url=https://www.404media.co/spotify-uk-age-check-verification-yoti/ |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=404 Media |date=30 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222232121/https://www.404media.co/spotify-uk-age-check-verification-yoti/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>

===YouTube===
{{Main|YouTube age verification}}
On 30 July 2025, [[YouTube]] responded by announcing its verification system, requesting users for either a government-issued ID, a photo, or credit card, in order to show that users are 18 and older. Age will be estimated through various information, including videos watched, and would lock users flagged below 18 unless they send one of aforementioned proofs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Michael |date=30 Jul 2025 |title=YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature |url=https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251204064951/https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |archive-date=4 Dec 2025|access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=GameRant}}</ref>

===Wikipedia===
The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF), which owns the digital encyclopedia platform Wikipedia, sued the United Kingdom to prevent them from forcing age checks on their websites. The WMF made a statement that being forced to comply with this act would compromise the privacy of its editors and the neutrality of the encyclopedia. On 11 August 2025, the London High Court denied the WMF's reasoning, but didn't necessarily force age checks for the website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Chiara |date=August 12, 2025 |title=Case dismissed – Wikipedia loses UK Online Safety Act legal challenge, but it may still be safe from age checks |url=https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/case-dismissed-wikipedia-loses-uk-online-safety-act-legal-challenge-but-it-may-still-be-safe-from-age-checks |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206093500/https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/case-dismissed-wikipedia-loses-uk-online-safety-act-legal-challenge-but-it-may-still-be-safe-from-age-checks |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2025 |title=Wikimedia Foundation Challenges UK Online Safety Act Regulations |url=https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/08/11/wikimedia-foundation-challenges-uk-online-safety-act-regulations/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250912103928/https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2025/08/11/wikimedia-foundation-challenges-uk-online-safety-act-regulations/ |archive-date=12 Sep 2025}}</ref>

===4Chan===
4chan is a simple image-based bulletin board where anyone can post comments and share images.

====Ofcom's investigation====
On 14 April 2025, Ofcom issued a formal information notice to the provider of the service 4chan requesting a copy of the record of its Illegal Content Risk Assessment, as part of the [https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/enforcement-programme-to-monitor-if-services-meet-their-illegal-content-risk-assessment-and-record-keeping-duties-under-the-online-safety-act-2023 Risk Assessment Enforcement Programme]. At the date of opening this investigation, no response has been received to the information notice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-13 |title=Investigation into 4chan and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-4chan-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615131417/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-4chan-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |archive-date=2025-06-15 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Ofcom}}</ref>

On 10 June 2025, Ofcom opened an investigation into "the online discussion board" 4chan. The investigation will consider 4chan's compliance with its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023. Ofcom has powers under [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50#section-102-8 section 102(8)] of the Act to require persons to respond to an information notice in the manner and form specified.

On 13 August 2025, Ofcom, in accordance with section 130 of the Online Safety Act 2023, issued 4chan Community Support LLC with a provisional notice of contravention, believing they had reasonable grounds for believing 4chan has contravened its duties under section 102(8) of the Act to comply (Ofcom.org appears to have blocked Archive.org from this and other pages sometime in July 2025).

====4chan's response====
Attorneys Preston Byrne and Ron Coleman, acting for 4chan, responded publicly to Ofcom’s provisional notice, which accuses the American company of failing to meet information notice requirements and possibly breaching duties related to content moderation.

The attorneys described the UK’s actions as an “illegal campaign of harassment” targeting American tech firms and warned that this extraterritorial enforcement of censorship law was incompatible with the First Amendment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Cindy |date=2025-08-18 |title=4chan Lawyers Fire Back as UK Tries to Censor from Across the Pond |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/us-lawyers-defend-4chan-against-uk-online-safety-act-enforcement |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250824210758/https://reclaimthenet.org/us-lawyers-defend-4chan-against-uk-online-safety-act-enforcement |archive-date=24 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-08-18 |work=Reclaim the Net}}</ref>

Since enforcement began, the UK’s media regulator Ofcom has reportedly sent formal notices to several US tech companies, instructing them to comply or face penalties. These letters have ignited backlash among American lawmakers, many of whom argue that Britain has crossed a line by trying to dictate speech rules to American businesses and citizens. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, along with other members of Congress, has taken his concerns directly to British ministers, raising objections with Science Secretary Peter Kyle.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frieth |first=Dan |date=2025-07-31 |title=The White House Puts UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Notice Over UK’s Dangerous Online Censorship Laws |url=https://reclaimthenet.org/us-uk-clash-over-online-safety-act-free-speech |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211191542/https://reclaimthenet.org/us-uk-clash-over-online-safety-act-free-speech |archive-date=11 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-08-18 |work=Reclaim the Internet}}</ref>

==Data breaches including ID documents==
Since the Online Safety Act came into effect, at least one known data breach has included sensitive ID documents used for age verification. Note that these breaches may ''not'' be linked directly to age verification methods implemented for OSA compliance, but nonetheless highlight the risks of sensitive ID documents being handled by private organizations.

===Discord Third-Party Customer Service (5CA)===
{{Main|Discord / 5CA Data Breach}}
On 3 October 2025, [[Discord]] issued a press release announcing "a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service [5CA]", in which "The unauthorized party [...] gained access to a small number of government‑ID images (e.g., driver’s license, passport) from users who had appealed an age determination".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-03 |title=Update on a Security Incident Involving Third-Party Customer Service |url=https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006163040/https://discord.com/press-releases/update-on-security-incident-involving-third-party-customer-service |archive-date=2025-10-06 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=discord.com}}</ref> The total number of ID images exposed was approximately 70,000. The data accessed came from an age-related appeals process which has been in place since before the OSA came into effect, and is used in conjunction with an "Automatic Age Check" system using k-ID.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-19 |title=Help! I'm old enough to use Discord in my country but I got locked out? |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041820932-Help-I-m-old-enough-to-use-Discord-in-my-country-but-I-got-locked-out |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127212200/https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041820932-Help-I-m-old-enough-to-use-Discord-in-my-country-but-I-got-locked-out |archive-date=27 Jan 2025 |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=Discord}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
According to analysis by Cloudwards, [[Google]] searches for "how to get around age verification" and "is VPN legal in the UK" saw a massive growth of over 450 thousand and 380 thousand percent respectively.<ref name=":5" /> United Kingdom saw an increased VPN usage by 1400 percent.<ref name="UK_VPN">{{Cite web |last=Speed |first=Richard |date=July 28, 2025 |title=UK VPN demand soars after debut of Online Safety Act |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/28/uk_vpn_demand_soars/ |access-date=August 15, 2025 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211054348/https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/28/uk_vpn_demand_soars/ |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> As of 16 August 2025, there has been at least 500 thousand signatures petitioning to repeal the act.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Baynham |first=Alex |date=2025-04-22 |title=Repeal the Online Safety Act |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722903 |website=Petitions: UK Government and Parliament |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128065314/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722903 |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

===OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk===
[https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/in_memoriam/ OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk] is a website which was created in response to the Act's implementation and is operated by Neil Brown,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Neil |title=OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk |url=https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/contact/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=OnlineSafetyAct.co.uk}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260210232703/https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/ Archived])</ref> a UK tech lawyer ([https://decoded.legal decoded.legal]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Neil |title=Neil Brown (@neil@mastodon.neilzone.co.uk) |url=https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/@neil |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=mastodon.neilzone.co.uk |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260216062932/https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/@neil |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> It lists all of the websites affected by the Online Safety Act, with the help of user submissions.

===Use Their ID===
[https://use-their-id.com/ Use Their ID.com] is a parody site that uses publicly available data about UK members of parliament to create AI-generated mock driving licences. They are clearly marked as satire and users are warned not to use them for anything real.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-28 |title=Use Their ID |url=https://use-their-id.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730001620/https://use-their-id.com/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-08-17}}</ref>

==Industry expert response==
The act has been [https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/internet-fragmentation/uk-online-safety-act/ opposed] as early as December 2023 by Internet Society.

===Electronic Frontier Foundation===
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) posted an article entitled [https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/08/no-uks-online-safety-act-doesnt-make-children-safer-online No, the UK’s Online Safety Act Doesn’t Make Children Safer Online], and covers the threat to privacy of internet users and how the bill restricts free expression by arbitrating speech online, exposing users to algorithmic discrimination through face checks, and leaves millions of people without a personal device or form ID excluded from accessing the internet.

<blockquote>The internet must remain a place where all voices can be heard, free from discrimination or censorship by government agencies. If the UK really wants to achieve its goal of being the safest place in the world to go online, it must lead the way in introducing policies that actually protect all users—including children—rather than pushing the enforcement of legislation that harms the very people it was meant to protect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collings |first=Paige |date=2025-08-01 |title=No, the UK’s Online Safety Act Doesn’t Make Children Safer Online |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/08/no-uks-online-safety-act-doesnt-make-children-safer-online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812070622/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/08/no-uks-online-safety-act-doesnt-make-children-safer-online |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref></blockquote>

===Theo Browne, YouTuber and CEO at T3 Chat===
[[File:UK Online Safety Act offloading responsibility.png|thumb|Parents, government, platforms, identity providers]]
Theo posted a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TZozNjPcGw YouTube video] covering the Online Safety Act and how it going to destroy the free internet if the internet community doesn't stop it ASAP. He said it's rare that he gets that extreme about something like this, but believes that it is a really important thing that the community jump in front of.

The Online Safety Act will normalise providing your government-issued identification in order to see content, making everyone more susceptible and vulnerable to phishing attacks perpetrated by identity thieves. The act also shifts the responsibility of child safety to the government, who in turn shift it to the websites, who in turn shift it to a brand new identity and age verification industry.

==Government response==
Ofcom discouraged the promotion of VPNs.<ref name="UK_VPN" />

UK Parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for debate. On 28 July 2025, when the petition to repeal the act had about 400,000 signatures, the government responded with this message: "The Government has no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act, and is working closely with Ofcom to implement the Act as quickly and effectively as possible to enable UK users to benefit from its protections.", only a few days after coming into force.<ref name=":0" /> This was only after three days (25 July 2025) the "highly effective age assurance" requirement came into force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department for Science, Innovation and Technology |date=2025-07-24 |title=Collection: Online Safety Act |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724092803/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act |archive-date=24 Jul 2025 |website=Gov.UK}}</ref>

The technology minister Peter Kyle said on Good Morning Britain, "if you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. Not those who want to keep children safe".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-07-29 |title=Peter Kyle Says 'Nigel Farage Is on the Side of Predators' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MaeOLISlA |access-date=2025-08-16 |work=Good Morning Britain, Youtube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=y-MaeOLISlA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Ofcom]]
*[[General Data Protection Regulation]]

==External links==
*https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/roadmap-to-regulation

==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:British legislation]]

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-13T20:53:46Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Concerns */

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-13T20:53:01Z

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Concerns */

Safe Digital Environments Law

2026-06-13T20:49:30Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS

2026-06-13T20:06:16Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Clippy_says|'''Entornos Digitales de Seguridad Cuestionable: Lo que los gobiernos no quieren hablar sobre la prohibición de las redes sociales y la verificación de edad'''}}

La prohibición de las redes sociales para los menores de dieciséis años parece un objetivo noble. Pero los métodos y propuestas que se están proponiendo para "mantener la seguridad de los jóvenes" en Chile, son problemáticos y prácticas similares en otros países han sido cuestionadas y algunas han traído consecuencias graves como lo son filtraciones de datos sensibles como tarjetas de identificación.

==Inicios==
Todo comienza en el año 2023, con la aprobación de la [[anti-privacy legislation|legislación antiprivacidad]] conocida como [[UK Online Safety Act]], la cual fue aprobada ese mismo año. La ley fue creada para "proteger a los niños" del contenido dañino en línea, prohibiendo el acceso a contenido considerado como maduro o explícito. Los ciudadanos mayores de edad deben [[age verification|verificar su edad]] para poder acceder a sitios maduros, usualmente teniendo que comprometer su privacidad e información sensible teniendo que subir material biométrico o una foto de su tarjeta de identificación, licencia de conducir o pasaporte. La ley entra en vigencia en el año 2025, y desde entonces ha mostrado una gran cantidad de rechazo por parte de los ciudadanos británicos, evidenciado en picos de búsqueda de elusión de verificaciones de edad y descargas de [https://es.wikipedia.com/Red_privada_virtual| VPNs].

==La epidemia==
Desde la vigencia de la legislación británica en 2025, varias naciones siguieron rápidamente el ejemplo de Reino Unido. Países como Australia, Estados Unidos, España y Malasia han seguido la iniciativa para prohibirle el acceso a adolescentes a contenido como lo son las redes sociales o páginas con contenido explícito.

==La situación en Chile==
Según el último informe de Freedom On The Net (2025), Chile posee una puntuación en línea bastante alta, siendo esta de 87/100. De acuerdo a Cloudwards, la puntuación de Chile en términos de libertad en línea es de 84/100.
https://www.cloudwards.net/internet-censorship/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile

https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=84068
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728

==Observaciones sobre el proyecto de ley==
De acuerdo a los últimos avisos de la Ministra Wulf, se busca implementar verificación de edad mediante el sistema ya existente de ClaveÚnica, un sistema manejado por el Estado, el cual actualmente permite realizar trámites y acceder a los beneficios que ofrece el país.

===Países que el gobierno usa como referencia y sus polémicas===
El gobierno ha mencionado en un informe que busca utilizar a cuatro países como referentes, los cuales son España, Brasil, Francia y Australia.
====España====
(bloqueos de CloudFlare y multas por usar VPNs -TBA)
====Brasil====
Recientemente en Brasil entró en vigencia una ley que obliga a proveedores de '''sistemas operativos''' a implementar '''verificación de edad''' en estos sistemas para poder utilizar un dispositivo. Esto impide que una '''persona que compró y es dueña de un dispositivo''' tenga '''control total''' sobre el dispositivo que es '''legítimamente suyo'''.
====Australia====
(baneo a rrss cuestionado - TBA)
====Francia====
(filtración de datos sensibles de 16 millones de ciudadanos -TBA)
==Los problemas y riesgos==

===Atenta contra la Ley de Neutralidad de Red===
===El Estado toma control del internet===
Si se implementa verificación de edad mediante el sistema de ClaveÚnica, significa que '''el gobierno y el estado''' tienen control sobre los servicios de internet y datos móviles, reduciendo tu '''control y tus derechos''' como consumidor sobre el servicio que tú mismo estás pagando. Cualquier gobierno podría aprovecharse de esta situación y modificar el sistema para recopilar más datos de un ciudadano para ejercer control sobre el mismo.
===Censura arbitraria y expansión de prohibiciones===
La prohibición y restricción de las redes sociales puede ser el primer paso para expandir la censura a otras áreas, tal como actualmente se observa que el actual gobierno [https://example.com persigue activamente las páginas de casinos en línea]. En 2023, se anunció y se ingresó al senado [https://tramitacion.senado.cl/appsenado/templates/tramitacion/index.php?boletin_ini=16431-15 un proyecto de ley que busca exigir la adición de verificación de edad en páginas para adultos], el cual sería el equivalente a lo que comenzó siendo el Online Safety Act en Reino Unido.

Un gobierno o cualquier otra entidad que le disguste alguna publicación tuya en redes sociales podría '''silenciarte, perfilarte e incluso perseguirte''' por esto.

===Pérdida del anonimato en línea===
Personas que se encuentran en situación vulnerable como podría serlo vivir bajo violencia intrafamiliar o persecución podrían ser rastreadas y silenciadas con facilidad. Criminales e incluso servicios de inteligencia de otros países podrían utilizar los datos sensibles de los usuarios para perseguirlos o hacerse pasar por ellos.

===Riesgos de filtraciones de datos===
El hecho de enviar información en línea como lo es en este caso la ClaveÚnica, una credencial estrechamente vinculada con la identidad de una persona, puede fomentar a hackers a atacar la infraestructura y las bases de datos para suplantar la identidad de un usuario
===Expansión de las prohibiciones y mayor restricción de derechos===
* Tal como ha ocurrido con Reino Unido y el Online Safety Act o como ya ha ocurrido en el estado de Louisiana, el hecho de que haya usuarios eludiendo las verificaciones de edad mediante el uso de VPNs, existe una posibilidad de que las prohibiciones se expandan, prohibiendo lo que son las VPNs, software comúnmente utilizado para protegerse en línea y mantener la privacidad.
* También existe la posibilidad de que la ley termine alcanzando y restringiendo el acceso mediante verificación de edad a las páginas de contenido para adultos al igual que ya ocurre con la legislación británica.

==¿Hacia dónde debería apuntar la ley?==
Estas son algunas ideas que podrían proteger tanto los derechos de consumidor como a usuarios menores de edad:

* Obligar a empresas que proveen servicios de internet a incluir opciones de planes que contengan controles parentales integrados que los padres o cuidadores puedan configurar a su gusto para agregar restricciones en la red o en dispositivos que utilizan sus hijos, permitiéndoles bloquear los sitios que deseen.
* Obligar a los sitios web, en este caso, las redes sociales, a integrar un identificador que puedan detectar estos sistemas de control parental con facilidad para así bloquear los sitios de forma adecuada.
* Crear programas y sitios educativos para padres y cuidadores para enseñarles a utilizar los controles parentales de los servicios de internet.
* Multar a padres o cuidadores cuyos hijos menores de 16 años presenten evidentes señales de fuerte adicción a redes sociales. Estas señales serían verificadas mediante análisis psicológicos.
* Crear una plataforma que permita realizar denuncias anónimas de acosos en internet, delincuencia en línea y presencia de contenido dañino.
* Obligar a las plataformas de redes sociales a modificar sus algoritmos para impedir que sean adictivos y promuevan el contenido dañino o peligroso, junto con obligarlas a mejorar sus sistemas de moderación para bloquear con mayor efectividad estos tipos de contenido.

==¿Quiénes están detrás de estas legislaciones controversiales?==
Se sabe que uno de los principales influyentes para la implementación de este tipo de leyes a nivel global es [[Meta]], quien se sabe que ha realizado lobbys en Estados Unidos para aprobar legislaciones que atentan contra la privacidad y los derechos de los usuarios.
También se ha visto que [[OpenAI]] ha estado realizando movimientos para impulsar leyes que promueven la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad.

==¿Qué puedes hacer?==
===Haz pasar la voz===
Muchas personas podrían no tener conocimiento o la noción sobre los impactos este proyecto de ley. Introducirles del tema permite visibilizar los riesgos, además de permitir que el gobierno o la ciudadanía propongan mejores soluciones para beneficiar a todas las partes. Comparte esta página, publica del problema en redes, habla con tus conocidos o familiares.

===Contacta a senadores, ministros y parlamentarios===
Cualquier forma de comunicación es mejor que mantener el silencio. Si no se informa del problema, aunque no se reciba respuesta alguna, se pensará que se está aceptando sin más.

===Contacta o apoya a organizaciones que aboguen por los derechos de privacidad y libertad de expresión en línea===
Ejemplo: [https://reclaimthenet.org/ Reclaim The Net]

===Apoya o crea campañas===
Apoyar y crear campañas para promover una reforma, rechazo o remoción del proyecto de ley puede permitir que el gobierno tome nota de los problemas del proyecto.

===Protesta si es necesario===
Pero sin inducir al uso de violencia. La protesta y la desobediencia civil puede ser utilizada como llamado de atención hacia el gobierno. Usa una VPN para preservar tu privacidad.

==Enlaces externos==
* [https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Carta abierta por científicos y académicos explicando los problemas, peligros y riesgos de la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad]
==Referencias==
{{reflist}}

User:ClippyWantsToHelp/EDS

2026-06-13T20:03:23Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Clippy_says|'''Entornos Digitales de Seguridad Cuestionable: Lo que los gobiernos no quieren hablar sobre la prohibición de las redes sociales y la verificación de edad'''}}

La prohibición de las redes sociales para los menores de dieciséis años parece un objetivo noble. Pero los métodos y propuestas que se están proponiendo para "mantener la seguridad de los jóvenes" en Chile, son problemáticos y prácticas similares en otros países han sido cuestionadas y algunas han traído consecuencias graves como lo son filtraciones de datos sensibles como tarjetas de identificación.

==Inicios==
Todo comienza en el año 2023, con la aprobación de la [[anti-privacy legislation|legislación antiprivacidad]] conocida como [[UK Online Safety Act]], la cual fue aprobada ese mismo año. La ley fue creada para "proteger a los niños" del contenido dañino en línea, prohibiendo el acceso a contenido considerado como maduro o explícito. Los ciudadanos mayores de edad deben [[age verification|verificar su edad]] para poder acceder a sitios maduros, usualmente teniendo que comprometer su privacidad e información sensible teniendo que subir material biométrico o una foto de su tarjeta de identificación, licencia de conducir o pasaporte. La ley entra en vigencia en el año 2025, y desde entonces ha mostrado una gran cantidad de rechazo por parte de los ciudadanos británicos, evidenciado en picos de búsqueda de elusión de verificaciones de edad y descargas de [https://es.wikipedia.com/Red_privada_virtual| VPNs].

==La epidemia==
Desde la vigencia de la legislación británica en 2025, varias naciones siguieron rápidamente el ejemplo de Reino Unido. Países como Australia, Estados Unidos, España y Malasia han seguido la iniciativa para prohibirle el acceso a adolescentes a contenido como lo son las redes sociales o páginas con contenido explícito.

==La situación en Chile==
Según el último informe de Freedom On The Net (2025), Chile posee una puntuación en línea bastante alta, siendo esta de 87/100. De acuerdo a Cloudwards, la puntuación de Chile en términos de libertad en línea es de 84/100.
https://www.cloudwards.net/internet-censorship/
https://freedomhouse.org/country/chile

https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=84068
https://www.leychile.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1016570&idVersion=2010-08-26
https://www.bcn.cl/asesoriasparlamentarias/detalle_documento.html?id=85728

==Observaciones sobre el proyecto de ley==
De acuerdo a los últimos avisos de la Ministra Wulf, se busca implementar verificación de edad mediante el sistema ya existente de ClaveÚnica, un sistema manejado por el Estado, el cual actualmente permite realizar trámites y acceder a los beneficios que ofrece el país.

===Países que el gobierno usa como referencia y sus polémicas===
El gobierno ha mencionado en un informe que busca utilizar a cuatro países como referentes, los cuales son España, Brasil, Francia y Australia.
====España====
(bloqueos de CloudFlare y multas por usar VPNs -TBA)
====Brasil====
Recientemente en Brasil entró en vigencia una ley que obliga a proveedores de '''sistemas operativos''' a implementar '''verificación de edad''' en estos sistemas para poder utilizar un dispositivo. Esto impide que una '''persona que compró y es dueña de un dispositivo''' tenga '''control total''' sobre el dispositivo que es '''legítimamente suyo'''.
====Australia====
(baneo a rrss cuestionado - TBA)
====Francia====
(filtración de datos sensibles de 16 millones de ciudadanos -TBA)
==Los problemas y riesgos==

===Atenta contra la Ley de Neutralidad de Red===
===El Estado toma control del internet===
Si se implementa verificación de edad mediante el sistema de ClaveÚnica, significa que '''el gobierno y el estado''' tienen control sobre los servicios de internet y datos móviles, reduciendo tu '''control y tus derechos''' como consumidor sobre el servicio que tú mismo estás pagando. Cualquier gobierno podría aprovecharse de esta situación y modificar el sistema para recopilar más datos de un ciudadano para ejercer control sobre el mismo.
===Censura arbitraria y expansión de prohibiciones===
La prohibición y restricción de las redes sociales puede ser el primer paso para expandir la censura a otras áreas, tal como actualmente se observa que el actual gobierno [https://example.com persigue activamente las páginas de casinos en línea]. En 2023, se anunció y se ingresó al senado [https://tramitacion.senado.cl/appsenado/templates/tramitacion/index.php?boletin_ini=16431-15 un proyecto de ley que busca exigir la adición de verificación de edad en páginas para adultos], el cual sería el equivalente a lo que comenzó siendo el Online Safety Act en Reino Unido.

Un gobierno o cualquier otra entidad que le disguste alguna publicación tuya en redes sociales podría '''silenciarte, perfilarte e incluso perseguirte''' por esto.

===Pérdida del anonimato en línea===

===Riesgos de filtraciones de datos===
El hecho de enviar información en línea como lo es en este caso la ClaveÚnica, una credencial estrechamente vinculada con la identidad de una persona, puede fomentar a hackers a atacar la infraestructura y las bases de datos para suplantar la identidad de un usuario
===Expansión de las prohibiciones y mayor restricción de derechos===
* Tal como ha ocurrido con Reino Unido y el Online Safety Act o como ya ha ocurrido en el estado de Louisiana, el hecho de que haya usuarios eludiendo las verificaciones de edad mediante el uso de VPNs, existe una posibilidad de que las prohibiciones se expandan, prohibiendo lo que son las VPNs, software comúnmente utilizado para protegerse en línea y mantener la privacidad.
* También existe la posibilidad de que la ley termine alcanzando y restringiendo el acceso mediante verificación de edad a las páginas de contenido para adultos al igual que ya ocurre con la legislación británica.

==¿Hacia dónde debería apuntar la ley?==
Estas son algunas ideas que podrían proteger tanto los derechos de consumidor como a usuarios menores de edad:

* Obligar a empresas que proveen servicios de internet a incluir opciones de planes que contengan controles parentales integrados que los padres o cuidadores puedan configurar a su gusto para agregar restricciones en la red o en dispositivos que utilizan sus hijos, permitiéndoles bloquear los sitios que deseen.
* Obligar a los sitios web, en este caso, las redes sociales, a integrar un identificador que puedan detectar estos sistemas de control parental con facilidad para así bloquear los sitios de forma adecuada.
* Crear programas y sitios educativos para padres y cuidadores para enseñarles a utilizar los controles parentales de los servicios de internet.
* Multar a padres o cuidadores cuyos hijos menores de 16 años presenten evidentes señales de fuerte adicción a redes sociales. Estas señales serían verificadas mediante análisis psicológicos.
* Crear una plataforma que permita realizar denuncias anónimas de acosos en internet, delincuencia en línea y presencia de contenido dañino.
* Obligar a las plataformas de redes sociales a modificar sus algoritmos para impedir que sean adictivos y promuevan el contenido dañino o peligroso, junto con obligarlas a mejorar sus sistemas de moderación para bloquear con mayor efectividad estos tipos de contenido.

==¿Quiénes están detrás de estas legislaciones controversiales?==
Se sabe que uno de los principales influyentes para la implementación de este tipo de leyes a nivel global es [[Meta]], quien se sabe que ha realizado lobbys en Estados Unidos para aprobar legislaciones que atentan contra la privacidad y los derechos de los usuarios.
También se ha visto que [[OpenAI]] ha estado realizando movimientos para impulsar leyes que promueven la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad.

==¿Qué puedes hacer?==
===Haz pasar la voz===
Muchas personas podrían no tener conocimiento o la noción sobre los impactos este proyecto de ley. Introducirles del tema permite visibilizar los riesgos, además de permitir que el gobierno o la ciudadanía propongan mejores soluciones para beneficiar a todas las partes. Comparte esta página, publica del problema en redes, habla con tus conocidos o familiares.

===Contacta a senadores, ministros y parlamentarios===
Cualquier forma de comunicación es mejor que mantener el silencio. Si no se informa del problema, aunque no se reciba respuesta alguna, se pensará que se está aceptando sin más.

===Contacta o apoya a organizaciones que aboguen por los derechos de privacidad y libertad de expresión en línea===
Ejemplo: [https://reclaimthenet.org/ Reclaim The Net]

===Apoya o crea campañas===
Apoyar y crear campañas para promover una reforma, rechazo o remoción del proyecto de ley puede permitir que el gobierno tome nota de los problemas del proyecto.

===Protesta si es necesario===
Pero sin inducir al uso de violencia. La protesta y la desobediencia civil puede ser utilizada como llamado de atención hacia el gobierno. Usa una VPN para preservar tu privacidad.

==Enlaces externos==
* [https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Carta abierta por científicos y académicos explicando los problemas, peligros y riesgos de la implementación de sistemas de verificación de edad]
==Referencias==
{{reflist}}

Age verification

2026-06-13T19:25:05Z

ClippyWantsToHelp:

{{Incomplete}}
{{See also|Forced identification|De-anonymization}}

'''[[wikipedia:Age_verification|Age Verification]]''' (AV), also referred to as '''Age Affirmation''' (AA) and '''Age gating''', is the process in where a business requires some form of identification to verify your age, a mass surveillance measure disguised as child safety to de-anonymize the internet. This is usually done for more explicit, mature content or social media. This practice has been widely spreading since the [[UK Online Safety Act|UK's Online Safety Act (OSA)]] has passed; requiring all individuals to verify themselves before accessing mature content. Ways of checking age include, but are not limited to: checking for a valid credit card, facial age estimation tools, government-issued ID, biometric data, account history behavior, and more.

As of December 2025, 25 US States require websites with mature content to verify age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Age Verification Laws - Action Center |url=https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/age-verification-resources/state-avs-laws/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228121257/https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/age-verification-resources/state-avs-laws/ |archive-date=2025-12-28 }}</ref>

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) reveals Meta Platforms spent $26.3 million on federal lobbying and funded a "grassroot" Digital Childhood Alliance group, with $0 to child safety<ref>{{Cite web |last=upper-up |date=2026-03-24 |title=Meta Platforms: Lobbying, Dark Money, and the App Store Accountability Act |url=https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260413033424/https://github.com/upper-up/meta-lobbying-and-other-findings |archive-date=2026-04-13 |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=[[Github]]}}</ref>.

==How it works==

===Online Platform Age Verification===
When accessing a platform or website that may contain content not suitable for all audiences may force you to register for the platform along with verifying your age by one of the methods mentioned previously. Sites that likely don't use any form of account system will probably have a popup instead requiring you to verify your age before even serving the content you were trying to access.

===Operating System Age Verification===
New legislation now mandates [[wikipedia:Operating_system|operating systems (OS)]] to block the user until they verify their age. This is done "for convenience" so that apps and websites don't individually prompt the user, instead those apps/websites can just query the platform (e.g. OS, web-browser, etc...) without the user noticing.

==Why is this a problem?==
The Online Safety Act is already exerting extraterritorial control through the age‑verification and validation changes it prompts, which are being implemented in the U.S. even though those companies customer bases are not at all subject to UK law, even Europeans that are also not under UK law are affected. This stems from the Act’s vague, overly broad language requiring companies to comply whenever users are located in the UK. Because the law effectively ignores national borders, non‑UK companies face only two options: geo‑block affected content for UK users or apply the same verification measures globally.

Geo‑blocking would severely disrupt services and business relationships that where already in place with UK customers before the Online Safety Act, so many companies choose to implement the changes for all users resulting in practical overreach beyond the UK. A reason for this is Ofcom's<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-31 |title=What is Ofcom? |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-we-do/what-is-ofcom |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref> statutory powers to require platforms to use “accredited technology” to detect illegal content. As such systems would have to be implemented onto all the content this again would be an overreach of their perceived authorities. Companies that do not comply are already being fined for this.

Even if the UK Government has “paused” its demand for implementing “accredited technologies” there is no practical way to meet the vague requirement set out by Ofcom in the Online Safety Act. The proposal ignores that smaller companies would likely be forced to close under the financial burden of compliance, producing a sterilized market with reduced competition only firms with deep pockets can comply. That still does not prevent Ofcom from fining companies that fail to comply.

Examples:

Webpage 4chan<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Investigation into 4chan and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-4chan-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

AVS GROUP LIMITED<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-31 |title=Investigation into AVS Group Ltd’s compliance with the duty to prevent children from encountering pornographic content through the use of age assurance |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-avs-group-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

The provider of Im.ge<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Investigation into the provider of Im.ge and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/investigation-into-the-provider-of-im.ge-and-its-compliance-with-duties-to-protect-its-users-from-illegal-content |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

Youngtek Solutions Ltd<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-11 |title=Investigation into Youngtek Solutions Ltd’s compliance with the duty to prevent children from encountering pornographic content through the use of age assurance |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/investigation-into-youngtek-solutions-ltds-compliance-with-the-duty-to-prevent-children-from-encountering-pornographic-content-through-the-use-of-age-assurance |url-status=live |website=[[Ofcom]]}}</ref>

===Customer Profiling===
Having companies easily able to identify you means they can track you more efficiently and sell that shared profile to other companies such as ad agencies that then start targeting you specifically. Age data stored in a computer's operating system is another data being used for device fingerprinting<ref>{{Cite web |last=Costa |first=C. da |date=2026-03-16 |title=Reddit User Uncovers Who Is Behind Meta’s $2B Lobbying for Invasive Age Verification Tech |url=https://www.gadgetreview.com/reddit-user-uncovers-who-is-behind-metas-2b-lobbying-for-invasive-age-verification-tech |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415225107/https://www.gadgetreview.com/reddit-user-uncovers-who-is-behind-metas-2b-lobbying-for-invasive-age-verification-tech |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-05-01 |website=Gadget Review}}</ref>.

===Government overreach===
Governments can also more easily track online movements and find out who you are. Saying something that may go against their own agenda may end up with a police raid, heavy interrogation, and prison time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=John |date=2025-06-20 |title=China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/china-censorship-internet-id-hnk-intl#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a%20state%2Dled,an%20infrastructure%20of%20digital%20totalitarianism.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-09-04 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620233250/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/china-censorship-internet-id-hnk-intl |archive-date=2025-06-20 }}</ref>

===Censorship===
Certain topics, such as adult content, politics, and LGBT+ topics, will likely be unfairly censored by the governing body or company that has a say on what platform has the '''potential''' to be inappropriate for minors or other age groups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-01 |title=Strict Age Verification Laws: Balancing Content Restriction and Educational Rights |url=https://www.thinkacademy.ca/blog/strict-age-verification-laws-impact-k12-education/#:~:text=Impact%20on%20K12,affect%20these%20groups |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Think Academy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018030711/https://www.thinkacademy.ca/blog/strict-age-verification-laws-impact-k12-education/ |archive-date=2025-10-18 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Jason |last2=Mackey |first2=Aaron |last3=Mullin |first3=Joe |date=2024-02-15 |title=Don’t Fall for the Latest Changes to the Dangerous Kids Online Safety Act |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215234054/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/dont-fall-latest-changes-dangerous-kids-online-safety-act |archive-date=2024-02-15 }}</ref>

Platforms that host this type of content may also be more proactive in deleting/hiding posts that may get them in trouble or fined by laws or policies by local governments, leading to a more censored internet where opinions are streamlined to fit a set narrative or outlook.<ref name=":0" />

===Increased inequality and denial of service===
Some stores, such as grocery stores, prohibit young people from viewing their web sites or using [[loyalty cards]], which provide discounts and digital coupons. Age verification means that young people and families where the young person does the shopping pay more for essentials like food.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pell |first=Miranda |date=25 Oct 2024 |title=Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury's shoppers issued warning over little-known 'age limit' rules |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-lidl-sainsburys-shoppers-issued-30233318 |access-date=20 Sep 2025 |work=Manchester evening news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021121644/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-lidl-sainsburys-shoppers-issued-30233318 |archive-date=2025-10-21 }}</ref> Those who do not have ID, or do not chose to use it (for instance, those who fear domestic violence, or are members of a group subject to persecution) may also be locked out or have to pay more.

===Storage of private and biometric Information by age verification service providers===
A study commissioned by the Australian government found that age verification service providers accumulate a concerning amount of personal information, sometimes even biometric in nature, even when that was not necessary to provide the age verification service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastian |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Age Verification Providers are hoarding biometric Data] |url=https://netzpolitik.org/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903115436/https://netzpolitik.org/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/ |archive-date=2025-09-03 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meineck |first=Sebastion |date=2025-09-03 |title=Anbieter von Alterskontrollen horten biometrische Daten [Google Translate English Version] |url=https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Netzpolitik.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251023063119/https://netzpolitik-org.translate.goog/2025/australisches-gutachten-anbieter-von-alterskontrollen-horten-biometrische-daten/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp |archive-date=2025-10-23 }}</ref>

===Age-gating===
Some applications or sites, such as [[Roblox]] use age-gating systems to segregate their users into age brackets. These brackets separate younger users from adults, but adults that are sexual predators can trick these systems to find easily the users they're targetting.

===Driving users towards smaller and completely unregulated offerings===
Big platforms can be regulated and forced to comply with applicable laws since they need to have infrastructure such as servers in all major markets. Only these will be affected by the age restriction requirement.

However, users who do not wish to compromise their privacy or who are not of age will then go looking towards smaller niche platforms, often in other regions not affected by the regulation or the [[wikipedia:Darknet|darknet]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kaleta |first=Miroslav |date=2025-08-20 |title=The Cost of Data Privacy Negligence (And How to Avoid It) |url=https://countly.com/blog/data-privacy-negligence#:~:text=2.%20Losing%20Customer,IBM%20Report. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217003447/https://countly.com/blog/data-privacy-negligence |archive-date=17 Dec 2025|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Countly Blog}}</ref> With these offerings, there is little to no leverage with regards to removal of illegal content. Increased exposure to illegal content can then lead to both a strengthening of illegal content providers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Branley |first=Dawn |last2=Covey |first2=Judith |date=2016-06-06 |title=Is exposure to online content depicting risky behavior related to viewers' own risky behavior offline? |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303357 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403233150/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303357 |archive-date=2022-04-03 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=ScienceDirect}}</ref> and significantly increased danger to minors, who may not yet be able to differentiate between legal and illegal content as well as an adult.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth |url=https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416042251/https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 |archive-date=2024-04-16 |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=American Psychological Association}}</ref> 

===Increased damage from data breaches===
Platforms which implement age checks that require sensitive information such as a government-issued ID will likely be more of a target for cyber criminals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Cybercriminals Target These Industries the Most – Here’s Why and How to Stay Safe |url=https://brandefense.io/blog/cybercriminals-target-these-industries/#:~:text=The%20Most%20Vulnerable%20Industries%20to,information%20stored%20within%20their%20networks. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260119030330/https://brandefense.io/blog/cybercriminals-target-these-industries/ |archive-date=19 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Brandefense}}</ref> As more platforms comply with the age checks, it becomes more likely that a data breach on at least one of these platforms can reveal extremely sensitive information. In the case of a data breach, it can be catastrophic if users' sensitive information were exposed, which can likely result in identity theft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popov |first=Cristina |date=2023-03-22 |title=Why breaches can affect you long after they occur |url=https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/why-breaches-can-affect-you-long-after-they-occur#:~:text=%232%3A%20Breaches%20can,for%20online%20accounts. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260104220250/https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/why-breaches-can-affect-you-long-after-they-occur |archive-date=4 Jan 2026|access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Bitdefender}}</ref>

Platforms already experience major losses and consumer distrust from data breaches that reveal information less sensitive than government-issued IDs or biometric data.<ref name=":1" /> A data breach involving information this sensitive will seriously damage a business, and the users even more so. As stated previously, users who foresee these privacy risks will turn away from platforms which implement the policy, and towards niche platforms.

===Inaccuracy===
Research on age verification software that estimates age via face scans are often inaccurate, identifying children as adults or vice versa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ganel |first=Tzvi |date=2022-12-29 |title=Biases in human perception of facial age are present and more exaggerated in current AI technology |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-27009-w |journal=Nature |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=22519 |via=Springer Nature}}</ref> These inaccurate estimations could lead to have to use more privacy-invasive methods like submitting a picture of a personal ID.

===Effectiveness===
Enforcement of the Online Safety Act legislation are often ineffective as many users can reach to VPNs and other methods in order to protect their privacy online.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jarvie |first=Chelsea |date= |title=Online Age Verification: Government Legislation, Supplier Responsibilization, and Public Perceptions |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429505/ |journal=PubMed Central |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=1068 |via=National Library of Medicine}}</ref> E.g. children could trivially use their parents' IDs or credit cards to be falsely identified as an adult, and access restricted content.

===Limitation of control over owned devices===
Age verification at the operating system level, as implemented on [[Apple introduces OS-level age verification|iOS]] in some regions<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-05-28 |title=If you're asked to confirm that you’re an adult |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/125662 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260506175439/https://support.apple.com/en-us/125662 |archive-date=2026-05-06 |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Apple support}}</ref>, can prevent the device owner - even adults to freely use their device unless they submit sensitive data online. This can also prevent parents from configuring their children's devices to their liking or to create different profiles in case a device is used by multiple people.

===Threat to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)===
Age verification, especially identity verification, are fundamentally incompatible with the four essential freedoms of [[Free software movement|free software]]. Legislation that mandates nationwide operating system age verification could outlaw GNU/Linux, consolidating monopolistic power to proprietary operating systems<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trevino |first=Sam |date=2026-03-06 |title=Age Assurance Laws and the End of General Purpose Computing |url=https://samtrevino.substack.com/p/age-assurance-laws-and-the-end-of |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/age-assurance-laws-and-the-end-of-general-purpose-computing-report |archive-date=2026-03-11 |access-date=2026-05-01}}</ref>.

==Methods==
There are various methods used to verify and check the age of an user, being these the most common ones:

*'''Age attestation''': Consists of establishing the user's birthdate on their account or profile.
*'''ID check''': The most privacy-invasive method and the riskiest of all. It consists of sending a picture of a government-issued ID, a passport or a drivers licence.
*'''Live selfie''': It consists of a live recording of the user's face. It has been questioned for its effectiveness and accuracy.
*'''Credit card check''': Less privacy-invasive than an ID check or a live selfie, but very problematic because of potential card theft if a data leak occurs.
*'''Behavior prediction''': Used by some social media to estimate the user's age by its behavior on the platform using algorithms.

==Examples==
*[[YouTube age verification|YouTube's age verification]] and account estimation algorithm.

*[[Spotify]]'s Age affirmation for MA rated songs and content.

*[[Discord's Mandatory Age Verification|Discord's age verification]] for accounts determining what eligible servers are available.

*[[Roblox#ID & face scan age verification|Roblox's age verification]] and account estimation algorithm for talking with users of similar age.

==Alternatives==
These are more consumer-friendly alternatives to age verification that can protect consumer rights and younger users:
*Education about internet risks and usage of parental controls
*Internet service options that include the ability to block sites and configure parental controls to the liking of the user
*Mandate for social media the modification of their algorithms to prevent making the media addictive and the visibility of harmful and dangerous practices and the reinforcement of moderation and parental controls.

==External links==

*[https://agelesslinux.org/distros.html Ageless Linux — Distro Compliance Tracker]
*[https://github.com/BryanLunduke/DoesItAgeVerify GitHub BryanLunduke - List Tracking Operating Systems Not Implementing Age Verification]
*[https://www.eff.org/pages/age-verification-bills-are-unconstitutional EFF explains how OS-level age-verification is unconstitutional]
*[https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8250/all-info All Information (Except Text) for H.R.8250 - Parents Decide Act]
*[https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026 Joint statement of scientists and researchers on Age Assurance - Open letter signed by academics, warning about age verification risks]
*[https://reclaimthenet.org/age-verification Say No to Online Age Verification at Reclaim The Net]

==See also==

*[[Chat Control]]
*[[Parents Decide Act]]
*[[Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Common terms]]