I was going through my bookmarks when I noticed some multitools I’d bookmarked last year being greyed out with a note that they require age verification. I headed off to google and found out that as of about a month ago, AliExpress now requires users in Europe and the UK to have their age verified via Au10tix, an Israeli age verification provider, if they want to view or buy anything “adult.”
Apparently things classified as adult don’t just mean things you might expect such sharp objects, sex toys or gooner anime figurines but also anything queer or feminism related as well as swimsuits (not sure who’d buy underwear or swimsuits from AliExpress but it’s your undercarriage I guess). I specifically saw someone complain on Reddit they could no longer buy the pride flags they had in their basket without verification. The verification process seems to involve taking a video selfie of your face from different angles while holding up your ID. Also the company was already hacked some time ago and apparently openly says in their TOS they share your data with their “partners”
It seems this whole thing was kicked off early this year when French authorities were outraged to find underage hentai sex toys in packages from AliExpress which made the EU tell AliExpress to do something or face huge fines.
I guess this is that something but I don’t see how it changes anything. You already need to use your real name, address and credit/debit card to buy anything. AliExpress knows who you are, and so does the customs officer inspecting your package. You’d think they could’ve just gotten rid of the loli shit on their store, but apparently the UK has also long been pressuring them to do something about knives and also this probably just how the entire Internet is going to be in a year or two 
oi guv you got a loicense for at 'ere kitchy knoife?
Or that small pocketable multitool with a tiny 2cm blade
or that pride flag
or those underpants
Or sewing kits
You could kill everyone in a Tesco with a sewing needle, they’re practically weapons of mass destruction
LGBT (and feminist) stuff apparently being on the list is the most disconcerting aspect and exactly what people would warn would begin happening in America. Haven’t encountered that myself though. I recently browsed for goofy communist decorations before knowing about the age verification thing and that was all there at least. So was all the nazi shit the algorithm assumed I also wanted to see
Yeah, with the LGBT and pride stuff I’m also not really sure what lead to that being censored on AliExpress. Not surprising since it always ends up in the crossfire but I’ve difficulty linking it to a recent European law or legal action. Maybe Hungary.