Now I might need a passport to play SL?

Those below 18 (and you have to be 18 here to a credit card) and "borrow" the credit card of their parents, can most likely borrow a driving license or passport even more easily.

So it proofs nothing.

Another concern: What if you cannot provide any of those documents that was mentioned. A friend comes to mind (not playing SL, but it is for the example). She hasn't a passport, but a identification card (which is legal in The Netherlands and the most of Europe)... she hates cars/driving and never bothered/cared/wanted to get her driverlicense.... and giving out the SOFI-nummer (Dutch version of the SS.... in a way) over the Internet is a big NO NO.

Morwen

60% of the users will be gone. shakeshead.......wasnt there a time where they said proof of age was not possible? And now they do a 180 Degree turn and pull this poop!.....

A Quote by Lee linden........on 07-12-2005, 03:07 AM

The source /111/3c/53309/1.html

"The registration process is automatically trying to enforce the following rule: If you've ever used Second Life, you're not eligible for a free account. Remember, we don't know who's at the keyboard, so you can be ineligible if a family member, friend, or (depending on your network setup) neighbor has already used Second Life.

The first page of registration warns you if it's detected that you've already used Second Life, and says that you may not be eligible for this promotion. If you ARE eligible, your account becomes a full Basic member of Second Life immediately, skipping the trial.

By that logic, if you are on trial instead, you were probably not eligible for the promotion.

I know this is probably a pain; we had to take care to be able to extend this offer to every person who hasn't tried Second Life that we could, without running a major risk of exploitation by a few goofballs out there."


To me it seems LLABS can`t make up their minds. What is wrong a year ago is now right.
( and they say us women can`t make up our minds

Wow.

Age verification isn't anything new folks, it's been around for a looong time. It's what keeps the internet pron industry in gravy.

"Age verification isn't anything new folks, it's been around for a looong time. It's what keeps the internet pron industry in gravy."

Really? Because the internet that I've seen has freely available porn that any child can see if they desire. The internet relies on responsible adults to monitor the access of their children to things they do not wish them to see. I do not understand why SL is any different. A teen can just as easily get ahold of his parent's license/SSN/address as they could a credit card.

In short. this additional measure doesn't verify anything. And Peggy, I've admired a lot of what you've said on these forums, but on this one I just think you're way off. I do believe a significant portion of current SL residents will indeed take the option of leaving rather than participating in this. I know I will. But at least the few of you remaining will have your lag-free, banal grid back.

I think the best part of that blog is the last couple sentences of the OP. They plan to "beta test this verification soon" yet will have it live on the main grid "by mid-May." It's May 5 today. We're talking a beta test of about a week. If that test period is typical for LL, it's no wonder they don't catch any bugs, lol.

Anyway, if this goes, then I bid you all adieu. I gave them enough personal information already, and I won't give them any more. NO ONE IS PROTECTED by this measure. Go ahead and pretend all you like, but this changes nothing about your assurances that the people with whom you interact are adults.

And for god's sake, take some responsibility for your own damn kids people.

The FREE porn isn't making the MONEY that the legit porn places are, the ones who force you to verify your age to partake of their particular specialty.

I have a question: How do you think LL should go about verifying that we don't have kids on the grid?

*applauds loudly*
Very well said. It reminds me of some discussions I had in my beginning time here.

Too often parents use computer/internet as a weak excuse to keep their children busy... and what more, it seems that they don't even care what their children are doing.

Having children means responcibilty... it means being involved with your children are doing... keeping an eye on them and guide them were needed.

Morwen.

And all the rest of the porn industry uses far less personal information than LL is requesting.

I'd be more concerned about this if I thought it had a chance in hell of actually being implemented (cf. every other substantive change LL has announced in the last two years).

As to motivations, I don't really think it is to keep the heat off of them (unless they are losing faith in their stance as a common carrier) but rather there is some profit motive. Either they will have more information about you to sell, or more likely, the "authentication" company (http://integrity.aristotle.com) is run by a buddy of The Phil and this is his way of throwing his friend a 100,000 customer bone - they are just down the street from each other.

It is in the first place the task of the parent to make sure his/her child stays away from things they are not allow to come.

You would let a minor go to a porn cinema? No? Then why not making sure they cannot access the main grid of SL?

Morwen.

"I have a question: How do you think LL should go about verifying that we don't have kids on the grid?"

The same way the internet does. PARENTS IN CHARGE.

That'll work. /not

Next....

Take a look at the "provider" of these authentication services at http://integrity.aristotle.com

Everyone who wants to give their private information to a firm that lists none of its principals, officers, or ownership on its web-site, please raise your hand.

"That'll work. /not

Next...."

This has nothing to do with working or not working. This has to do with who is ultimately responsible for access to "adult" content. The porn sites you mention, so far as I know, ask for a credit card to verify your age......we've already provided LL with that information. And the kid who used a parent's credit card to get on the adult grid before will also get on the adult grid with a parent's license, SSN, address, etc....

Why?

Age verification will be voluntary. There will be consequences for not verifying one is an adult, but those consequences don't include being banned from SL. People who prize their anonymity will continue to be allowed to enter SL without verifying their identity, age, or method of payment; they simply will be excluded from parcels explicitly flagged "adult."

People with adult-themed business should be grateful for the new mechanism to shield themselves from liability. If they are found to serve minors, they can now say--with good foundation--that they acted in good faith that the minor were in fact adults; not only did the minors affirm they were adults, but a third-party organization verified their age.

Just as there are pornographic web sites, chat rooms, forums, etc. on the Internet that skirt Internet-based age verification systems, I predict there will be erotic builds, groups, events, IM's, etc. in SL that do not occur according to the directives. Some of those involved will no doubt be identified and banned and perhaps even prosecuted; others will slip under the radar screen.

I find this age verification measure to be a responsible decision on LL's part, and certainly a prudent one in view of the litigation-crazy American culture. I appreciate that they are taking the trouble to develop ways to allow SL Residents the freedom to make SL "our world"--in this case to allow adult-only activities to continue when it would have been so easy to simply ban such things. It tells me that whatever my plans for SL, if I act responsibly LL is likely to allow me to go about my business.

Exact documents may vary depending on your country of residence but may include:
Passport
Driver’s license
Name
Address
National ID number, such as a Social Security number


So use a drivers license.

Curious what about those of us that own Mature lots paid lots and lot of real life dollars for but never or rarely do anything mature on them? How will this affect us if we don't want to give out more then our credit card information?

Is this a one-time fee, or will we be charged every time we go to an adult area?? I can't help but feel we are looking at the beginning of a "Porn Tax" here.

Also, what if I don't have a DL? I have a perfectly legal gov. issued ID that proves I'm at least 21, since you can't get one if you are under 21. I had to have background checks done at the state and federal level to get it. Our stupid state gov. will not make the data on it private, and can already be obtained publicly, so giving it out is not that big of a problem. Will this ID work for age verification?

If I am reading correctly those that don`t are stuck in a non mature part(s) of SL.

Those that are NOT of Age and or don`t want to proof its age will be subjects to limations to content of PG and not mature.



Age verification is waht many have been wanting including me, after seeing and experincing many times kids in the game.

As far as I am concerned, this is a good thing. Right now there is no way to stop minors from entering the Main Grid. That is, as I have pointed out in another thread, a danger for the right to do whatever you want in SL. Once word gets out, the public outrage over this 'Sodom and Gomorra' letting kids in will be big enough to either kill SL or force it to convert to a nanny state. Age verification is an important step towards preventing that nightmare. Some people have assumed this would be the first step towards banning adult content. I think it is far more likely this is the first step towards actually making as sure as possible there are no minors at all walking around on the Main Grid, PG and Mature. LL is not stupid, they make far to much money from region with adult content to want to put a stop to that.

For those who think they should have privacy: what, are you nuts? You are using this service, and the providers of this service have every right to demand age and identity verification as a condition for providing it. There is no right of anonymity from someone you have a legal binding contract with. Which we all have with LL. Want your anonymity? That is simple, just get out of the contract and stop using SL.

I for one will be happy to send a copy of my drivers licence, in the security that there will be a hell of a lot less chance of facing criminal charges if I chat with an escort in a club who turns out to be fifteen years old.

The true question is... how did those kids got on the grid?

Most likely someone did not take their responcibility, did not keep an eye on them.... or is not even interested what their children are doing.

Morwen.

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!! Go back to 6/6/2006 Didnt one linden on the forums say its a grand moment for SECOND LIFE and we are excited about this new sign concept? What happened? the Teen Game emptied and the Adult Game filled.....

But look now they did AS ALWAYS the OPPOSITE, they got waht they wanted in the course of a year.........6 MILLIONS USERS! Now they SAY THANK YOU AND BYE BYE It was nice of you to play here, but your not of age anymore so go back to the teen game....

Does no one here see the risk that a lot of sl residents will be running if they give proof of id to an unnamed American company. Identity theft is a growing problem and there are a lot of people I suspect who would not want their identity discovered. People for whom sl is an escape from a very public life. Can you imagine someone hacking the records, though I know Linden say they won't be kept, and going public! There are others who just like to escape and don't want to feel at risk in any way! I am just an ordinary citizen but I think we're going to see a lot of folks leaving sl for this reason before age verification comes in!

Great, hopefully all the gorean sims will disappear overnight because nobody can get to them.

Gordon Wendt pops the cork on some Champagne

One of my partners - Flaran - has voiced a sensible point. Who (in their right mind) is going to provide personal information such as a passport number or social insurance number to a third party???? In fact, I am not certain if it is actually legal to provide serial numbers or passport information so readily (no doubt I will be jumped on for that guess) BUT I value my REAL privacy. Flaran and I are already making plans. Our other partner must be consulted. But our fantasy world is rapidly becoming a corporate 1984.
There will be many who welcome this intrusion into our lives thinking that it guarantees them safety and will see it as a poke in the eye for outspoken types who may look bizarre even on sl and have doubtful "morals". But rebels and Nekos and mulipartnered families - all eccentirc and wonderful FREE people will start to leave. Well at least you will all know you are over 18. (And I bet the griefers will stay).

For those of you (almost all of you) talking about the porn aspect I guess the Avenue Q song was right, the internet really is for porn... go figure