Thomas Sowell’s warning fits the digital age with brutal precision: There are no solutions, only trade-offs. When governments regulate technology, they seize your privacy first. Every “safety” mandate becomes an excuse to collect more personal data, and the result is always the same. Bureaucrats claim to protect you while making you more vulnerable.Age-verification laws illustrate this perfectly. Discord’s recent breach — more than 70,000 stolen government ID photos taken from a third-party vendor — shows how quickly privacy collapses once platforms are forced to gather sensitive data.Millions of citizens should not be forced to trade away privacy because policymakers refuse to acknowledge the risks.To comply with the U.K.’s new Online Safety Act, Discord began collecting users’ documentation. That data became a target, and once breached, attackers reportedly demanded a multimillion-dollar ransom and threatened to publish the stolen IDs. Discord failed to monitor its vendor’s security practices, and thousands paid the price.Age-verification mandates require digital platforms to confirm a user’s age before granting access to specific content or services. That means uploading government IDs or submitting to facial scans. The stated goal is child safety. The actual effect is compulsory data surrender. These laws normalize the idea that governments can force citizens to hand over sensitive information just to use the internet.Centralized data collection creates a jackpot for cybercriminals. As the Discord breach proves, one compromise exposes thousands — or millions — of users. Criminals can sell this information, reuse it for identity theft, or weaponize it for blackmail. The problem isn’t a one-off failure. It is structural. Age verification mandates require platforms to create consolidated databases of personally identifying information, which become single points of catastrophic failure.The libertarian Cato Institute captures the problem: “Requiring age verification creates a trove of attractive data for hackers that could put broader information about users, particularly young users, at risk.”Governments may insist that the Discord breach was an outlier. It wasn’t. Breaches of sensitive information are predictable in systems designed to aggregate it. Even if the motives behind the U.K.’s age-verification regime were noble, undermining privacy to advance those aims is a trade-off free societies should reject. That is why the Online Safety Act triggered an outcry far beyond the U.K.And, as usual, legislative mandates fail to achieve their stated goals. Days after the OSA took effect, VPN downloads surged as users — including children — bypassed verification systems. Laura Tyrylyte, Nord Security’s head of public relations, told Wired that “whenever a government announces an increase in surveillance, internet restrictions, or other types of constraints, people turn to privacy tools.” Predictably, age-verification laws encourage evasion instead of compliance.RELATED: The UK wants to enforce its censorship laws in the US. The First Amendment begs to differ. mikkelwilliam via iStock/Getty ImagesThe pattern is simple: Age-verification laws degrade privacy, heighten the risk of identity theft, and fail to keep minors off restricted platforms. They make the internet less safe for everyone.Meanwhile, policymakers remain determined to spread these mandates in the name of protecting children. The U.K. pioneered the model. Many other governments followed. Twenty-five U.S. states have adopted similar laws. The list grows each month.But governments cannot treat data breaches as acceptable collateral damage. Millions of citizens should not be forced to trade away privacy because policymakers refuse to acknowledge the risks. The result of this approach will be more surveillance, more breaches, more stolen personal data, and a steady erosion of civil liberties.Privacy is the backbone of liberty in a digital world. Thomas Jefferson’s warning deserves repetition: “The natural progress of things is for government to gain ground and for liberty to yield.”Age-verification mandates accelerate that progress — and citizens pay the price.

“It’s strange, it’s an experience that I’ve never had before, I’m very humbled by it." The post It’s Sir Roger Now: The Who’s Daltrey is Knighted appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Here's a 'How It Started/How It's Going' Starring Chuck Schumer Before and After the Hegseth Briefing

Morning Minute: 'Your Life Might Be the Only Bible Someone Reads'

Amid reports the U.S. plans to move Gaza's ceasefire into its second phase by year's end, a U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that the International Stabilization Force will be deployed to Gaza at the start of 2026.

Rep. Haley Stevens, who is running for an open Senate seat in Michigan, formally introduced articles of impeachment Wednesday against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a move with virtually no chance of advancing in the GOP-controlled House.

American-made microchips were repeatedly found inside Russian missiles and drones used to kill Ukrainian civilians, according to five lawsuits filed Wednesday in Dallas County. The filings come as verified civilian deaths in Ukraine reach at least 14,775.

Ryan O’Neal, the beloved actor who rose to fame with Love Story and Paper Moon, passed away on December 8, 2023. Fans remember him not only for his remarkable performances but also for his enduring love story with actress Farrah Fawcett. Over decades in Hollywood, Ryan O’Neal built a career that left a lasting impression, and his personal life added another layer to his public persona. His story remains a poignant example of devotion, resilience, and artistry. Despite facing numerous personal challenges, Ryan O’Neal remained a figure of admiration. He survived multiple battles with cancer, including chronic myelogenous leukemia and prostate cancer, before ultimately passing due to congestive heart failure. His strength and dedication to family, particularly his unwavering care for Farrah Fawcett, are central to the Ryan O’Neal legacy. Fans continue to celebrate both his artistic contributions and the deep love he shared throughout his life. Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett’s Enduring Bond Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett/Everett Collection Ryan’s life was intertwined with his decades-long relationship with Farrah Fawcett. The pair never married, but their love endured through illness, separations, and the challenges of Hollywood fame. O’Neal supported Fawcett during her battle with anal cancer until her death in 2009, an act that underscored the deep devotion central to the Ryan O’Neal legacy. Their relationship remains one of the most remembered Hollywood romances of the era. Even after Farrah’s passing, Ryan O’Neal reflected on their time together with profound admiration. He often spoke of how her courage inspired him and how their connection shaped the latter part of his life, according to People. This enduring bond is a defining element of Ryan O’Neal’s legacy, reminding fans that his personal life was as compelling as his on-screen performances. A Career Marked by Resilience and Impact LOVE STORY, Ali MacGraw, Ryan O’Neal, 1970/Everett Collection Beyond his personal life, Ryan O’Neal enjoyed a career filled with acclaim and challenges. He earned an Oscar nomination for Love Story and delivered memorable performances in both film and television. Even while facing serious health struggles, O’Neal remained committed to his craft and maintained strong relationships with his children, including Tatum, Griffin, Patrick, and Redmond. The Ryan O’Neal legacy also reflects his resilience and the admiration he inspired in fans and peers. Patrick O’Neal, in particular, paid tribute to his father, calling him a hero and a Hollywood legend. This recognition highlights not only Ryan O’Neal’s contributions to film but also the lasting impression of his life story, making him a figure whose impact will continue to be celebrated. LOVE STORY, Ryan O’Neal, Ali MacGraw, 1970/Everett Collection Next up: A Newly-Restored ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ Returns To Theaters In 2027 The post Remembering Ryan O’Neal: His Life And Legacy appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Ruth A

THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—President Donald Trump accused Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota of marrying her brother during an interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns released Tuesday. Questions…

[View Article at Source]This is huge. The post Supreme Court OKs Trump’s Firing Of Biden FTC Appointee appeared first on Conservative Brief.