The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has expressed its concerns regarding Louisiana House Bill 570, which requires online platforms to adopt age verification methods that may jeopardize user privacy and yield inconsistent outcomes. In a presentation to the House Commerce Committee, the association highlighted potential drawbacks and risks inherent in the proposed legislation.
Under the provisions of HB 570, online platforms would need to employ tools such as facial age estimation or demand sensitive personal information, including driver's licenses, to ascertain a user's age. However, a recent study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology revealed that facial age estimation tools produce varied accuracy depending on several factors such as sex, image quality, region of birth, and age, leading to diverse results across different demographic groups. The study suggests that these tools are still evolving and should not yet be adopted as regulatory standards.
The CCIA further warned that by requiring personal identification submissions, there is an increased collection of private information, which is troubling for families that value both privacy and online safety.
State laws similar to the Louisiana measure involving mandatory age verification are encountering constitutional challenges nationwide, with courts halting several pending considerations related to First Amendment and privacy concerns.
Tom Mann, State Policy Manager for the CCIA, elaborated on the issue stating: "Every age verification method involves trade-offs among privacy, accuracy, and cost – especially for smaller platforms and startups. Facial age estimation tools are not yet consistent across all groups, and asking families to hand over more personal data is a big ask with real privacy implications. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, and Louisiana should proceed with caution."