Stop Killing the Internet: New EU Citizens' Initiative Fights Mandatory Digital ID

A new European Citizens' Initiative called “Stop Killing the Internet” aims to prevent mandatory identification and digital ID from becoming the standard for browsing the web. The co-initiator is no stranger: Moritz Katzner, director of Stop Killing Games Europe, already knows firsthand the fight against unwelcome EU regulations.

The EU Commission has officially registered the initiative under the somewhat cumbersome title “Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification.” Behind it stands a broad alliance of civil rights organizations, including the Open Rights Group, Big Brother Watch, and several European Pirate Parties. Their common goal: digital identity verification and age checks should remain voluntary, privacy-friendly, and non-discriminatory – no obligation, no backdoor for widespread surveillance.

What exactly does the “Stop Killing the Internet” initiative demand?

The official page of the European Citizens' Initiative clearly outlines its demand: the EU Commission should present a legislative proposal ensuring that digital identity and age verification systems remain voluntary when accessing online services within the Union. For the concern to even reach EU institutions, organizers must collect at least one million valid signatures from at least seven member states within twelve months. Only then is the Commission obliged to issue an official statement and schedule a hearing in the European Parliament. Katzner pinpoints the underlying concern: it's not about child protection itself, but about the infrastructure and the precedent such systems create – a kind of escalation ladder from face scans to mandatory ID and even chat control.

What does this mean for gamers on Steam, Discord, and Twitch?

For the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) gaming community, this is more than just political fine print. Mandatory age verification ultimately affects the very platforms where gamers spend their time daily: Steam, Discord, Twitch. How differently providers handle such requirements is shown in our report on age verification in Australia, where Microsoft and Valve already had to take different approaches. Those who want to support the new initiative can sign on the campaign page – important note: the signature must come from an EU member state, including the identification details required there.

Historically, this is no coincidence: Stop Killing Games had previously mobilized with its own citizens' initiative against the shutdown of purchased games and helped push the EU towards a Digital Fairness Act. “Stop Killing the Internet” is, in a way, the logical continuation – the same minds, the same principle: user rights first, corporate and government interests secondary.

Our assessment: Age verification online sounds reasonable at first, no question. The problem lies in the implementation: as soon as an ID scan or a digital ID becomes a prerequisite for a Steam login or Discord chat, the gateway for far more than just youth protection is opened. Once central identity data is tied to platforms, it opens the floodgates for data leaks and the creeping expansion of control. This initiative deserves attention, even if a million signatures sound ambitious.

Source: GameStar

What's your stance on mandatory ID on the internet – sensible youth protection or a precursor to surveillance? Discuss with us in the comments!