Facebook/Meta/Zuck was caught dark money lobbying for the requirements for it to be used in Facebook. He wants the data but doesn't want to look like the bad guy because he knows people will drop facebook like a rock if he adds that crap if competitors don't have to.
If I recall correctly, they were lobbying for it to be added at the OS level. So when some future regulation targets social media all the technical effort, cost, and liability would have been pushed off to someone else already. Facebook would just check the "is over 18" flag and not have to pay a cent.
Facebook/Meta/Zuck was caught dark money lobbying for the requirements for it to be used in Facebook. He wants the data but doesn't want to look like the bad guy because he knows people will drop facebook like a rock if he adds that crap if competitors don't have to.
If I recall correctly, they were lobbying for it to be added at the OS level. So when some future regulation targets social media all the technical effort, cost, and liability would have been pushed off to someone else already. Facebook would just check the "is over 18" flag and not have to pay a cent.