When Rep. Leigh Finke spoke last month before the Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee to testify against HF1434, a broad-sweeping proposal to age-gate the internet, she began with something disarming: agreement.
“I want to support the basic part of this,” she said, the shared goal of protecting young people online. Because that is not controversial: everyone wants kids to be safe...
The strongest version of this narrative is that age-verification laws, while framed as child protection, are being co-opted by groups with a history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights to censor speech and restrict access to information. Rep. Finke’s testimony and the backlash she faced illustrate how these laws can be weaponized to silence marginalized voices under the guise of safety. The article effectively highlights the broader implications of such legislation, including threats to free speech, priva...