Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
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Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
Interestingly enough it turns out the same entities are the largest funders of the UK Online Safety Act, California's Age-Appropriate Design Code, Digital Age Assurance Act and New York's SAFE for Kids Act. so here it is:
Oak Foundation funds:
- 5Rights Foundation (they run the Kids Code Coalition and are UK based)
- Fairplay
- Common Sense MediaOak Foundation is funded solely by Alan M. Parker the British billionaire who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers.
Common Sense Media (one of Oak's funded orgs) is also independently funded by:
- Bezos Family Foundation
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- Gates Foundation
- Dell Foundation
- Craig Newmark Philanthropies
- Hewlett Foundation
- Tom Steyer / Kat TaylorCombined, the funding flowing into this advocacy ecosystem exceeds $100M/year.
Now you know.
#privacy #nowyouknow #infosec #identity #security #linux_gaming
a project to create a us monopoli of information ...
something only morons and traitors can subscribe to outside of the us ...
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Links to verify this, please!
Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/ -
@kstrlworks
I admit I have no idea what Craig has been up to since Craigslist but it feels like he's slightly the odd one in this list? Or is he a terrible person too?@eldersea I only have information on his foundation, not about him as a person.
Their 990 filing also shows significantly larger total donations.
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Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/@kstrlworks Great job digging this up. The whole age verification thing is clearly an attack by the usual American suspects.
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Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be focusing on CSM. To avoid just pasting the 990 forms from these foundations, I’ll instead highlight more readable documents. Each major donor also has publicly posted press releases issued after their donations.
California
The official research for this law was conducted by CSM:
https://apcp.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-04/ab-1043-wicks-apcp-analysis.pdfHere’s the official post from when Assemblymember Wicks first introduced the measure in California:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/in-victory-for-kids-and-families-newsom-signs-online-safety-protections-into-lawWicks’ own website specifically names Google, Meta, and CSM as major supporters:
https://a14.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250909-google-meta-among-tech-leaders-and-child-advocates-voicing-support-wicksUK
CSM was directly behind authoring the bill:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-uk-appoints-two-distinguished-board-trusteesNew York
CSM CEO Jim Steyer appeared in Governor Hochul’s official press release announcing the NY Safety Act, where CSM served as an advisor:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/protecting-our-kids-governor-hochul-announces-nation-leading-proposals-protect-kids-onlineAdditional Insight
CSM’s head of lobbying is Danny Weiss, the former Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi:
https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-common-sense-media-is-fighting-for-kids-in-the-age-of-ai/@octade It’s also important to note that Fairplay and 5Rights were involved in the earlier 2022 California bill on the same issue, which was ultimately rejected. These 3 players are normally seen together.
Post rejection
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/statement-on-the-signing-of-californias-age-appropriate-design-code-act -
@kstrlworks Great job digging this up. The whole age verification thing is clearly an attack by the usual American suspects.
@hopeless The money has not yet reached its full potential.
The AVPA, which is the trade association for identity verification services such as Yoti, Jumio, Incode, IDverse, and others. https://avpassociation.com/members/
Have not yet started ramping up lobbying.
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J jeppe@uddannelse.social shared this topic
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Isn't it odd that Rupert Murdoch's disinformation outlet Fox News & NY Post describes the Oak Foundation as "left wing"?
Yet opposed to encryption & privacy
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/01/apple-encryption-iphone-heat-initiative/
https://archive.is/MeyP1https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/technology/child-sex-abuse-imagery-apple-safety-privacy.html
https://archive.is/f94APThe Oak Foundation seems to fund a lot of green initiatives & anti-human trafficking outreach
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/supporters-of-our-content-the-age-of-extinction -
Thanks to the FEC and OpenSecrets we're able to find who's lobbying and funding the age verification laws.
Interestingly enough it turns out the same entities are the largest funders of the UK Online Safety Act, California's Age-Appropriate Design Code, Digital Age Assurance Act and New York's SAFE for Kids Act. so here it is:
Oak Foundation funds:
- 5Rights Foundation (they run the Kids Code Coalition and are UK based)
- Fairplay
- Common Sense MediaOak Foundation is funded solely by Alan M. Parker the British billionaire who co-founded Duty Free Shoppers.
Common Sense Media (one of Oak's funded orgs) is also independently funded by:
- Bezos Family Foundation
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
- Gates Foundation
- Dell Foundation
- Craig Newmark Philanthropies
- Hewlett Foundation
- Tom Steyer / Kat TaylorCombined, the funding flowing into this advocacy ecosystem exceeds $100M/year.
Now you know.
#privacy #nowyouknow #infosec #identity #security #linux_gaming
The Australian age verification/u 16 social media ban, was pushed by a radio company, Radio Personality and an large advertising agency.
Together they formed a not for profit, funded by 38 global brands(advertising customers)
They also owned AI software to detect the impact of the ban for schools.
As well as AI age verification software to sell to the social media companies.
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The Australian age verification/u 16 social media ban, was pushed by a radio company, Radio Personality and an large advertising agency.
Together they formed a not for profit, funded by 38 global brands(advertising customers)
They also owned AI software to detect the impact of the ban for schools.
As well as AI age verification software to sell to the social media companies.
This wasn't about protecting kids. It was getting kids back watching tv and listening to radio, for the ads. To more Kit Kats and chocolate.
It was about money.
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@kstrlworks @octade not necessarily. But if you want to know who funds them you'll be going down a rabbit hole to see who funds the funders. Here's their annual report https://5rightsfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/companies_house_document-5.pdf
Here are some funders https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1178581# prudence trust are the largest. -
Isn't it odd that Rupert Murdoch's disinformation outlet Fox News & NY Post describes the Oak Foundation as "left wing"?
Yet opposed to encryption & privacy
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/01/apple-encryption-iphone-heat-initiative/
https://archive.is/MeyP1https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/technology/child-sex-abuse-imagery-apple-safety-privacy.html
https://archive.is/f94APThe Oak Foundation seems to fund a lot of green initiatives & anti-human trafficking outreach
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/supporters-of-our-content-the-age-of-extinction@Npars01 @octade Oak Foundation has and still does make big donations to environmental and humanitarian causes. Unfortunately, because it is a Swiss‑based foundation, there is little public information about its motivations, internal structure, or international donations, so it is difficult to understand its reasoning.
Oak is also the largest advocacy funder channeling money into the US, which means its donations often become a partisan issue.
It also provides substantial funding to organizations and initiatives that focus on anti-privacy. As such CSM, 5Rights and Fairplay do get a strong slice of their annual income from that one source.
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J jwcph@helvede.net shared this topic
