Upcoming Changes for Adult Content: Account Verification for Accessing Adult Content

No, up where I come from, the transfer of the data is illegal. Might be a different implementation of the directive in national laws, but the outcome is it's prohibited even with consent.

/me blinks

I'm sorry, but how does not being able to set permissions prevent a minor form viewing adult content? And why is setting permissions supposed to be an adult activity?

The transfer of YOUR OWN data BY YOURSELF? That is, you can't tell anyone outside the EU your home address, or car license plate number if you choose to do so? Care to tell me which country you live in?

As far as I know the EU only prohibits people and companies from transferring OTHER PEOPLE'S data. You can do with your own data as you please, as far as the EU is concerned.

We all know payment info on file != certified over 18. and if you cant depend on it, you cant use it as a filter for content. The legal peeps will just give it you back.

3rd party age verification doesnt work on the grid as few event organisers want to filter there audience, especially as there is no way to see who is age verified (but thats another kettle of exploding worms all by itself)

You will just create a situation where by people 'oops!, forget' to tick the super adults only check box until someone pulls them up on it. Thats the exact reason for mature items being in the search when mature isnt ticked!

Totally! Would make things easier. I work as a photographer and have alts for use as models. As it currently stands, anyone can make an account or three. And it would be a hassle to have to verify multiple times.

I can access free porn sites and look at women getting double fisted in both orifices simply by agreeing that I'm over 18 on the front page.

If an under 18 says they're over 18 in an instance like that, it's not the site owners problem, the minor lied, and its they and their parents responsibility.

When we join SL we claim we are over 18.

If anyone is lying THEY are at fault, not the poor guy in SL they come across getting his jollies in Tentacle Rape Gardens, or whatever.

I hate the fact that people are being asked to compensate for poor parenting here

Keep verification simple. Use the KISS principle. Plus allow all alts to be placed under one account.

lnxplzthnxbai

You may as well stop mentioning Age Verification, and insist on paypal accounts and credit card use, because the level of private information required to Age Verify is ridiculous.

Though I do love how you guys flip-flopped on paypal and CC use - which was formally 'not going to cut it', but now is probably going to be the only way it's done.

Oh wait, they flip-flopped before too, before I joined in late 2006, you used to have to have credit card information to join, and then they repealed it, and then they said 'it won't cut it', and now they're going to make it practically required again xD

This is like the RC viewers and "Watchdog":
1.2x.0 on (new idea, lets put it in!)
1.2x.1 off (oh wait, it crashes the viewer consistently)
1.2x.2 on (we fixed it, we swear!)
1.2x.3 off (oh no wait, it still crashes the viewer consistently)
1.2x.4 on (okay, for reals, we fixed it this time)
1.2x.5 off (nevermind, it kills FPS and still crashes client)
1.2x.6 on(/psyche/ it totally works)
1.2x.7 off (fooled you! It doesn't work properly, and still crashes client)
...and on, and on, and on...

These things are like bloody lightswitches to Linden Lab, it's amazing.

What has changed to make CC verification an acceptable proof of age when we were constantly told during the rolling out of the Aristotle data mining scheme that it wasn't?

Two Words:

Eminent Domain!




.... you want to build a school where my DD's house of penis parts is? Where's my government bailout check?!?!?


( by the way, I'm just creating a stink... I dont have a penis parts shop. my overall opinion is SL will NEED to be a place where education and business does not run into adult/sex. So, given that.... I believe the correct approach is NOT to segregate, and push people off of their current land. I do not have a better idea, but this isn't it.
My best thought would be to create a G only all ages new mainland.. and the people that DONT want to be around mature or xxx can inhabit the new mainland safely knowing xxx will never move in. But to displace the entire world? I don't think it's a very good judgement)

Sl used to be fun... every day is worse. Soon we will need to put a copy of first side of our real life ID card instead of Sl pic in our profiles. This is suppose to be a game !!!!!

not to be forgotten: I , and we, want to thank some of the Lindens for reacting and responding to us here on the forum. Ploping in a policy like this... you all know you're gonna get slammed. But I very much appreciate and respect that you guys are listening to us here and having a 2-way conversation about it.
i am quite sure this could lead to new or revised ideas on it after hearing the community.

I find it interesting that after rejecting credit cards as a form of age verification so the membership numbers could be artificially inflated for the press, you are now saying it is acceptable. Well in that case, i would also like you to go back to charging the $9.95 fee for lifetime basic accounts and put the limit back on alts per creditcard and address. Alts do more damage to the integrity of SL in the form of bots and griefers than adult content does.

Cyn's just updated the blog post (https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2009/03/12/upcoming-changes-for-adult-content ) with the following FAQs as some additional clarification:

[UPDATE]

Thanks for all the great feedback and conversation so far! We're going to post some clarifying information here and in the forums right now. Tomorrow we'll be back in to catch up on the overnight feedback, and keep the dialogue going.


-- How much of SL is adult oriented content?
Based on our research, we estimate that around 2-4% of content on the mainland would be considered Adult according to our current thinking on defining that. For all of Second Life, our content research shows it is around 5%. In other words, 95% of Second Life either mature or PG.. Again, we estimate that only around 2-4% of the mainland parcels would need to either relocate or reconfigure to meet the requirements in our current thinking, but of course we are looking for your feedback to help define that.

-- What about adult activity in private on the mainland? e.g. Is Linden Lab making rules about what I can do in my own house on the Mainland?
Nope. We are talking about public behavior and events, businesses and listings that are meant to drive explicit sexual and violent activity.

-- What about objects/avatars/groups that some consider inherently related to specific sexual activities or preferences - e.g. furries, sexy clothing, etc. - will that be considered 'Adult content'?
We're still working on tight definitions (which we'd like your help with) on what is considered Adult, but in general sexy clothing, skins, and furries aren't inherently explicitly sexual, and stay in the Mature areas (i.e. won’t need to move to the Adult continent).

-- Is all content currently classified 'Mature' going to have to move to the Adult continent?
No. Our research found an estimated 2-4% of the mainland parcels would need to either relocate or reconfigure to meet the requirements, based on our current definitions of Adult content, which again, is an area where we’d appreciate your feedback.

-- Why not make all PG content move to a new continent?

Both PG and Adult are the exception, rather than the rule, in Second Life. We would prefer to keep the majority of the content and interaction where it is currently – the Mature regions.

Why not a G-rated continent?
This is not about teenagers in Second Life or the Teen Grid. This is about providing a choice about the kind of experience people want to have in Second Life, which is fundamentally an 18+ service.

How does this apply to combat sims, can you provide examples of what would be allowed?
Combat sims are mature, think R rated movie. If part of that is lots of blood and gore, that would be considered Adult. Again, the precise definitions are something we’re still working on and would welcome your input in the forum thread devoted to this topic.

What happens to my personal data? Will it get shared with a 3rd party when I verify my account?
Our 3rd party age verification provider uses several types of data to verify your account, but they do not store the data or use it in any other way.

What decisions are Residents going to be able to impact?
We are open to talking about many aspects of the change – timeline, more granular definitions of mature vs Adult, how those who need to move want to make that work. We know some of you are asking for a more definitive timeframe – that is part of the ongoing conversation, what is reasonable in your view?

Can you talk about the decision making process and what the timeline for decision making will look like?

Over the past year or so we have been hearing from a growing number of you that the experience in Second Life needed to change. We gathering a great deal of feedback and data, and then sat down and tried to imagine how we could serve most needs best. What we came to is that we didn't need to change very much about Second Life to meet the majority of those needs. As we've stated, nearly all inworld content, events and classifieds will stay as there are. For some events and businesses, you will now have a place where you can target your audience and reach the people who are looking for the goods and services you provide.

In the next few weeks we will hold several inworld meetings to discuss the timeline and other open questions around definitions and helping people who want to move or want more guidance around tagging, and events and classifieds.

i do don't like access systems because they can't work well minors can find a way in - i don't like limits of freedom

my idea is - keep AO and PG together but can't access to AO areas without verifying user for example

asking questions before entering this area but PG areas don't need changes - whereabouts there childrens areas such nice things with no AOs or AO RPG but PGG like shrek and things
mature areas - place a warning if there AO is present leave now if you don't want see AO
AO areas - they should have limited access - like in RL - you can't lock all AO shops in one street with two gates its needs a freedom - only parcels that next to road or path or next to other parcels
the shops who sell non AO shouldn't affected

but ALTS can be linked with Main accouct but if want separate its worth but put Name of Main SL so if ALT separted from Main accouct - then still works without needing payment
children or minor accoucts will have a settings that limit access for them
or main accouct can have parents settings if child is shared with parent

but most people like SL because its good but its needs a freedom controls

i will show ideas - they can help to stop minors getting in wrong place

1: free accoucts = can access all over grid and can use Mature and PG sims and RPG but they have to confirm access to AO locked parcels either answering questions or real birth dates but if they click under 18 - they will rejected automaticlly and automatic ban from AO parcel - if its sim owned - they have to answer questions before entering and if they answer wrong or fails or its under 18 - they ejected automaticlly from sim and they add to ban list - means if they come back and try access AO sim again - they will denied till they have upgraded to paying accouct
2: paying accouts will be free of limits with real birth dates - but if minor is present on computer or gaining access - if someone left computer on - they can set the parents controls - simllar system used on War of warcraft which has parents control system which has limit timer and the SL window will close automatically and minor can't access SL if he.she tries to log in again - a locked icon will appear on connect button - the adult has to enter his speical password to unlock and reset the timer via parent controls lock - either hidden behind lock
3 - parent controls - can be used to control time spent on SL with separate accouct - Minor accouct which has to be linked with parent's Main accouct or ALT accout if its set
4 - date of birth with security questions - if owner of parcel has set that - will reduce the minor access
5 children accoucts - if they enter non 18 area - they allowed to use it - such rentals that don't have Adult sex poses and etc but if they enter Mature where a minor adult things present or hidden away behind the closed doors - a pop up will appear reminding them to check the date of birth but in AO - no access to them if accouct is Minor with settings

settings controls for parents

PG only or all or Mature/PG access or sim named to limit access eg Minor has be stay in home sim or parcel - i often see parents with child controlling with them watching them

date of birth of child/minor

timer and calender to control the access

on resigter - put a Under 18 and over 18 - to make clear - if person clicks on over 18 and enters 13 years age and the form will refused automaticlly and redirects to under 18 form with parent name there meaning he has to ask parents to grant access

to Lindens - i am so pleased with it but i like a SIMPLE access system not based on cc or etc - which will limit the freedom but offering a parents control or simllar system based on other online games - have look at examples - War of warcraft and some online games which have system already in place for minor limiting access

edit: many people will leave and move to new other place if the freedom is limited
so better have 3 month meetings about this before deciding and also a trials on new system would be nice before they go live

added -

i am worried about sharing the data because most companies can liable for leaking data or losing data or passing to someone - we don't need to share data to 3rd party - i prefer is share with Linden labs without 3rd party


from rsd58

Lets face it, LL does nothing more than RL mall owners trying to send the beggars and other unwanted people outside, out of sight so there is a more enjoyable experience for all the nice people around. Kill all public places, bad people could be there, privatize all land.

So, to reach that goal, no one needs to have any account verified at all, total bullshit. Just make it clear for what kind of buisness or usage land is usable and be done with it. RL cities redlight districts basically, there are no ID checks to enter them, but people know where they are and avoid them if they don't like to see it.

State your goals, state your ideas and be prepared to throw 99% of those away if your really serious. Adult stuff is a part of life, like guns, money, communism, other religions, other ideas of good and evil..., so its a lost cause from the start if you strive for perfection.

If you are really serious about age verification you would need infrastructure like this (german), where there is an anonymous/pseudonymous function for secure age verification built into the ID cards themselves, but that will not be rolled out in germany before 2010 and for the rest of the world your stuck with crappy or highly doubtful systems that just cry for identity theft. So not worth to even try it...
http://www.cio.bund.de/cln_102/DE/IT-Projekte/Leuchtturmprojekt_ePA/Anwendungstest_ePA/anwendungstest_node.html

And if you go the route of age verification as protection, be aware that you might get even insaner issues, like the german idea to restrict the times when adult content is available to the times when minors are not online (6AM-11PM CET is banned for adult content like it is on TV, totally insane in the internet, but they try nontheless, totally clueless).

How can they match my electoral roll details with my credit card number? Does it mean THAT has to be loose in the public domain too?

No no lol, but if the person on the electoral register's name and address matches the person on the credit card's name and address there's a good chance you have a match.

Frankly, I don't like control of me in real life, and certainly not in second life. I have no intention of getting age verified. The one thing I have liked about second life is the complete freedom, which is being slowly taken away in real life. For me it’s simple, take or leave it.

Consistently, I have watched as something on the web grows and is eventually taken over, then having anything to do with adult content being removed, as will happen in second life. This is a plague that needs to be stopped in its tracks.

You don’t need age verification to separate the contents, or to have someone that does not want adult content avoid it. You just need to have a box which is capable of having a tick put in it.

It is also not your job to make sure non adults do not get access to it, it’s the parents job.

I met a wonderful 11 year old on here once that had a verified, payment connected account. Her parents did it because she could make "pocket change" doing stuff. By pocket change i mean she make 140-600 a month selling stuff. Problem is in the US even children can be taxed..... and her parents were. So anyone who thinks your children are making "pocket" change you need to worry about the tax man coming after you and your kids. (yes I did report the account and I never saw the person again so I am lead to believe LL handled it)

As a child avvie I am not worried about adult products. I am worried about way to adult avvies I saw a man with a HUGE penis on who made it so it if was near a female avatar it would have "sex" with them, and this was on a non-mature sim (it was actually a child avvie sim). I reported that and it was also handled. I think LL is doing a good job and while I don't trust them with who I really am I do trust them to keep the grid as safe as they can. LL isn't a huge company (that i am aware of), they are doing a good job.

I understand why they are doing this, and I understand why it is needed but i agree that it is hard to verify people. The more people our info goes through the more likely it is to screw up.

Also remember if a child comes online to an adult area and lies about who they are and their parents are aware their parents are the liable ones and the ones that go to prison so if you are foolish enough to allow your RL children on the adult grid you carry the issue. The person who finds out can sue the parents and the parents can go to prison.

The best and only real way to know who is an adult is trust. The best policing for children is their parents. The best policing online is the parents.

Yes I am an adult. I have only 1 account (though I like the idea of being able to link accounts from behind the curtain).

also Pre-paid credit cards when verified say they are as such, they do not have a name or address tied ot them so they are unverifiable. A debt card when verified will come up with the persons age at the bank. A paypal account lists the age of the verified person (also verifying a paypal account when under 18 typically involves the parents okay or the child lied and committed a federal crime and can go to prison).

Now listen to Blondin she is a nice women and everyone should listen to her always.

I repeat listen to blondin.

No I am not a lawyer.

think LL should create 2 new continents.

A disney PG continent where adults & kids can mix with prominent policing to deter pedophilia.

A X-rated continent where only verified adults can access

Turn all existing mainland gradually into Mature land as it sells.

And add the teen grid to the main grid allowing teens to access the PG continent.

A little less hysteria, we'reu're not going to get banned for rezzing a sexbed in a mature skybox.
Imagine a continent where traffic was real because you couldn't have 100 unverified bots.

Thank you for the confidence Lil. And I hope one day we can earn your trust. Thanks for the post!

You already tried this verification thing before.

It failed miserably.

Please drop the idea. There are plenty of governments which won't provide this information on their citizens. There are plenty of third world countries which don't have credit cards and such.

I suspect this is much to do about nothing.... SL is always changing, evolving, why should this be different? Im just gonna wait and see, its much to early to draw a conclusion now.