Should adult websites be required to verify a user's age before granting access to content?

Legislative proposals requiring adult websites to verify the age of visitors have sparked a heated debate between child safety advocates and privacy campaigners. Supporters argue that self-declared age gates are ineffective and that strict verification—requiring government ID or facial analysis—is the only way to prevent minors from exposure to graphic content. Opponents warn that creating databases of users' intimate browsing habits poses a massive security risk and that such laws are easily bypassed with VPNs. A proponent supports this to prioritize the mental well-being of children over internet anonymity. An opponent opposes this to protect digital privacy and prevent government surveillance of legal behavior.