Hi John - I wanted to make sure you saw this news about YouTube checking users' IDs before letting them watch videos. This is a surveillance and censorship fiasco that will restrict what people can see online and collect tons of data that can be used to monitor us all online.

We're jumping into action, gathering data and writing a report to track how YouTube users are already being impacted by this policy. Plus, we're digging into other platforms that are preemptively complying with these policies. Jumping on these issues is Fight for the Future's bread and butter, but your support makes it possible. Can you rush a donation today to help fund our YouTube ID check report and campaigning?

Thanks - Caitlin

John,

Imagine logging onto YouTube to watch travel videos, learn tech repair, or catch up on news from Palestine, only to be met with a pop-up that blocks the content—unless you submit your ID or credit card info to prove you’re an adult. Reports just like these are flooding in via our YouTube censorship reporting form,¹ and I won’t lie, I’m worried.

YouTube’s AI age verification fiasco² is just the newest iteration of online censorship masquerading as “kids safety.” You’ve likely heard us raise the alarm about Bad Internet Bills³ like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)⁴ that would age-gate entire sections of Internet, putting everyone’s privacy and access to information at risk. With massive companies like Google rolling out this censorship voluntarily, it’s only a matter of time before these efforts escalate and we risk losing access to the Internet we know and love.

We’re a small, queer women-led team taking on these censorship schemes because we know how important it is to find community online in isolating times—without compromising our sensitive info. But to sustain this work and stand a real chance against Big Tech and surveillance-loving lawmakers, we need your support. Will you start a monthly donation today to stop YouTube’s ID checks and fight online censorship?

JOIN THE FIGHT

Even a one-time gift in any amount makes a massive difference for an org of our size. If you haven’t yet taken action to demand an end to YouTube’s ID checks and lawmakers’ misguided censorship legislation,² that’s another great way to take action. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on this campaign and more ways to help.

Thanks for all you do,

Alex and the team at Fight for the Future

Footnotes:

1. Report Censorship on YouTube #AgeGate: https://airtable.com/appnGjFqdkzvYfY2R/pagEHiunefcSkT54f/form

2. Stop YouTube’s Dangerous ID Check Program: https://www.fightforthefuture.org/actions/stop-youtubes-dangerous-id-check-program/

3. Bad Internet Bills: https://www.badinternetbills.com/

4. Stop KOSA: https://www.stopkosa.com/