The **EFF** has joined a coalition of 18 organizations, including **Mozilla**, **Tor Project**, and **Open Rights Group**, in a letter urging UK policymakers to reconsider their approach to online safety. The letter addresses concerns surrounding the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and its potential to harm the open web through overly restrictive measures. ### Age-Gating Concerns The core issue lies in the proposed age-gating requirements and access restrictions. The coalition warns that these measures, ostensibly designed to protect children, would likely impact all users. These policies rely heavily on age assurance technologies, which the signatories argue are often inaccurate and privacy-invasive. The letter highlights the risks associated with mandating these systems across a wide array of online services, including social media, video games, **VPNs**, and even basic websites. Such mandates would force users to verify their identity simply to access the web, leading to expanded surveillance, potential data breaches, and the erosion of anonymity. ### Threats to the Open Internet Beyond privacy implications, the signatories argue that these measures threaten the very foundation of the open internet. Widespread age-gating could fragment the web into isolated jurisdictions, restrict access to information, and consolidate the power of major gatekeepers like app stores and platform ecosystems. This, they contend, could weaken the interoperability, accessibility, and openness that have made the internet a global public resource. ### Addressing Root Causes The letter also points out the absence of meaningful efforts to address the underlying drivers of online harm. The coalition emphasizes that many digital platforms are designed to prioritize engagement and profit through extensive data collection and targeted advertising, often at the expense of user safety and autonomy. Instead of imposing access bans, the signatories urge UK policymakers to hold companies accountable for these systemic practices and to prioritize user rights by design. ### The Internet as a Lifeline Importantly, the letter underscores the vital role the internet plays for young people, providing access to information, support networks, and opportunities for expression that may not be available offline. Policies that restrict access risk cutting off these essential lifelines without effectively reducing harm. The coalition's message is clear: protecting users online requires more than heavy-handed restrictions. It demands thoughtful, rights-respecting policies that address the business models and design choices that drive harm, while preserving the open and global nature of the web.