Hacker News Reader

But the presumption in a liquor store is that pretty much everything in the store is for sale to adults only. That's why liquor stores exist. It's not really a good metaphor for the internet, where the opposite is (or should be) true: the presumption should be open access for all.

View on HN

Totally fair distinction, and good callout. I agree that open access should be the presumption. The liquor store is not meant here as a metaphor for the internet at large, but rather for how the internet should operate in the specific circumstances age verification is legally required.

Or we could resist the notion that age verification should be legally required. Because it won't just be for 'adult' things.

Also fair, and there’s certainly an argument to be had there, but it already is law in many cases. Either way, my belief is that it’s not a better outcome to accept the status quo on the implementation side at the expense of privacy while that debate plays out.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com