EU Age Verification Project Mandates Hardware-Bound Attestation
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EU age verification mandates hardware-bound attestation, restricting Linux and custom ROMs.
The EU's open-source age-verification project requires hardware-bound attestation (e.g., Android TEE, Apple Secure Enclave) to prevent credential cloning. A maintainer confirmed this is mandatory, not an optional detail. Critics argue this locks out Linux, custom Android ROMs, and independently compiled apps. Desktop Linux users could scan a QR code with a supported mobile wallet, but no native Linux wallet exists. Credentials will only be issued to apps on a European Commission-maintained compliant list, meaning community-built versions cannot use the real service without approval.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are overwhelmingly critical, seeing this as a dystopian move that forces dependence on Google/Apple hardware and operating systems. A key objection: users will need a second, non-Linux device to use the internet, contradicting e-waste reduction goals. Several argue that hardware attestation is insufficient without also banning VPNs and monitoring homes. A counterpoint notes that physical ID equivalents also rely on trusted government-issued hardware, but most reject this analogy, arguing the design forces unrelated spyware onto devices needed for societal participation. Some question where EU anti-trust regulators are, as this mandates Google or Apple accounts.