Teens will beat porn blocks in seconds

The problem with facial scanning to block under-18s accessing porn sites is that it gives parents a false sense of security (‘Question of the Fortnight’, Issue 673, pictured right). Many of them will assume that this technology is all they need to keep their children safe from online harms, but kids will do what they’ve always done, and find ways to bend the rules. Most teenagers know how to use VPNs. It’ll take them about three seconds to work out what to do.

Mark Rennie

Face scanning won’t just stop teenagers accessing porn sites – I think it’ll put off most adults too. Just imagine if every time you tried to buy a magazine off the top shelf the newsagent had to scan your passport or driving licence, and then take a photograph of you. That feels intrusive, but I reckon it’s still more secure than giving all that information to a porn site.

People who want porn will look for ways around this restriction, and