The SCREEN Act Threatens Privacy Far Beyond Adult Websites

The Senate Commerce Committee is set to consider the SCREEN Act, according to EFF Deeplinks—a sweeping age-verification bill requiring online services to verify ages before accessing sexually explicit content. The bill casts a wide net. It would apply to Netflix, Reddit, Discord, and Bluesky—any platform hosting even a single piece of adult material. The SCREEN Act doesn't allow simple self-certification. Instead, it requires verification through third-party services tied to real identities, capturing and storing personal information in databases. As EFF reports, protections are weak: companies face only vague requirements to protect data, allowing indefinite retention. The bill specifically targets VPN users, requiring age verification based on IP addresses and flagging traffic from known VPN services. Per EFF Deeplinks, this discourages privacy tools that millions rely on for legitimate purposes—protecting personal information, securing public Wi-Fi, and safeguarding journalists and activists.

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