The Beta Digital Wallet app, developed by a new Spanish startup, promises to protect minors from accessing online pornography. However, the app has raised concerns about data privacy and security risks as it collects and stores personal user data.
To use the app, users can register their age with an official document to gain access to websites with pornographic content. The app generates an anonymous credential that verifies age and grants access to these sites while ensuring the user’s anonymity. This feature aligns with the EU’s regulation on electronic identification, which requires age verification for digital platforms.
Despite its good intentions, critics like Xnet have questioned the effectiveness of the app in preventing minors from accessing inappropriate content. They have raised concerns about data privacy, limitations in blocking only Spanish-based sites, and evasion through VPN systems.
Panda cybersecurity firm has warned against potential data theft, security breaches, and user privacy concerns with the Beta Digital Wallet app. Panda emphasizes that creating a centralized database with sensitive information makes it vulnerable to exploitation by cybercriminals for sextortion or scams and exposes it to unauthorized activities on the dark web. Therefore, Panda recommends regular security audits and secure storage of information to prevent misuse by unauthorized parties.
Overall, while the Beta Digital Wallet app aims to protect minors from harmful content, it also raises concerns about user privacy and cybersecurity risks that need proper attention and care from developers and policymakers alike.
