Spain is set to launch a mobile application designed to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content. Dubbed the “porn passport,” this application will allow legal users to access adult material without tracking their usage while restricting access for minors.
What is Spain’s porn passport?
The ‘porn passport’ is part of the new Digital Wallet app of the government of Spain, known officially as the Digital Wallet Beta (Cartera Digital Beta). According to Olive Press, the app will enable internet platforms to verify the age of individuals viewing pornography, ensuring that only those of legal age can access explicit content.
How will it work?
Starting later this summer, individuals seeking to view pornographic material will need to verify their age through the app. Once verified, they will receive 30 “porn credits” allowing access to explicit content for one month.
Understanding the ‘porn credits’
Each credit issued by the app will generate a QR code. When a user types in the address of a porn site, a link will appear. Clicking this link will connect to the Digital Wallet, which will then present the credentials to verify the user’s age without revealing any other personal details. Each token permits up to 10 visits to the same website.
Age verification process
To verify a user’s age, the app will require a government-issued ID. This measure ensures that only individuals of legal age can obtain the necessary credentials to access pornographic content.
Token limits and renewals
Users can renew their tokens or porn credits multiple times within a month. However, frequent users will receive alerts to renew their digital passports, and those who access the websites too frequently risk being traced.
Despite criticism over the system’s complexity, Spain insists it is more privacy-friendly and ensures users’ details will not be tracked.
Addressing privacy concerns
While some critics argue that the system is cumbersome, the Spanish government maintains that the ‘porn passport’ is designed with user privacy in mind. The app’s ability to verify age without tracking personal details aims to offer a balance between accessibility for legal users and protection for minors.
The launch of this innovative app marks a significant step in the Spanish government’s efforts to safeguard minors from inappropriate content while respecting the privacy of adult users.