Zero-Knowledge Proofs Aren’t Age Verification Silver Bullets

Age verification laws are prevalent, with many US states and the European Union considering centralized age verification systems. However, these laws often fail to protect children and raise significant privacy concerns. Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) have been proposed as a potential solution, but recent evidence shows they are flawed.

ZKPs create a constant link to the entity that verified a user's age, posing a threat to digital rights. The EU's plan for age verification in a central app raises concerns about centralized power and potential authoritarian control over internet access. ZKPs, although mathematically impressive, were not designed for age verification and fail to address privacy and security issues adequately.