The UK's Online Safety Act is now in effect, compelling tech platforms to implement robust age verification systems. Regulators will scrutinise age verification tools on platforms like X, TikTok and Reddit. The goal is to prevent minors from accessing harmful content, including pornography. Platforms that fail to comply with the act could face substantial fines, up to £18 million or 10% of their global turnover.
Acceptable methods for age verification include facial age estimation, digital ID wallets, credit card checks, and open banking. These measures are designed to ensure a 'safety-first' approach, safeguarding children from inappropriate material while allowing adults to access legal content. Some platforms are proactively using age verification to differentiate between adult and child users.
The implementation of the Online Safety Act marks a significant shift, requiring online services to employ effective measures rather than simple age declarations. The industry anticipates increased demand for age verification technologies as digital age checks become standard practice.
