# 19 orgs including Mozilla, Proton,Tor warn UK age verification threatens privacy Source: https://farcaster.xyz/kazani/0x8afaa99b Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/19-orgs-including-Mozilla-ProtonTor-warn-UK-age-verification-threatens-privacy?index=0x69fdb1c86ba4848983f75e20b3167ceaa90e589fbe84b276b30a701ec32efd75b38704d2 Submitted by @kazani on 2026-05-08 UTC, 1 upvote, 0 comments ## Summary Nineteen organizations, including Mozilla, Mullvad and Proton, have signed an open letter to British authorities warning that planned online age verification measures could severely undermine privacy, anonymity and the open nature of the web. The signatories say the requirements, which follow the passage of a new child welfare law, would affect not only social media platforms and games but also VPNs, static websites and live streams. They argue that better methods should be sought to protect minors without compromising the freedom and security of all internet users, and they warn of heightened risk of mass surveillance. ## Article ✉️ Open Letter to British Authorities Several companies and privacy advocacy groups such as Mozilla, Mullvad, and Proton along with 16 other organizations, have signed an open letter addressed to British authorities. In it, they express their concern regarding the age verification measures planned for implementation online following the passage of a new law concerning child welfare. They explain that compelling users to prove their age on the majority of online sites and services could severely undermine privacy, anonymity, and the open nature of the web. They warn that these requirements would impact not only social media platforms or games, but also VPNs, static websites, live streams, and many other platforms thereby infringing upon fundamental rights and heightening the risk of mass surveillance. Their core message is that better methods should be sought to protect minors without compromising the freedom and security of all internet users. The 19 organizations are: Mozilla Mullvad Proton Big Brother Watch Defend Digital Me Electronic Frontier Foundation ExpressVPN Gamers Voice Global Partners Digital Index on Censorship Internet Society IPVanish NO2ID Open Rights Group Privacymatters Stop Killing Games Tor Project Tuta VPN Trust Initiative Official link to the letter: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/2026/05/UK-joint-statement-against-age-gates.pdf