Age Verification
Ongoing coverage on Age Verification.
Latest coverage
EU says Pornhub and others failed to stop minors accessing adult content
The European Commission has accused Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos of failing to adequately prevent minors from accessing adult content, violating the Digital Services Act. The platforms' current age verification methods, such as single-click declarations and content warnings, are deemed ineffective. The EC is demanding robust, privacy-preserving age verification systems and has warned of potential fines up to six percent of global annual turnover if non-compliance is confirmed.
Evening Mobilization
Apple is implementing a new age verification update for iPhone users in the UK. This change requires users to verify their age as part of the update process.
UK regulators explain what 'highly effective' age assurance for the Online Safety Act actually means
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Ofcom have issued guidance on what constitutes 'highly effective age assurance' (HEAA) under the Online Safety Act. The regulators emphasize a flexible, tech-neutral approach, stating that HEAA is primarily required for services with pornographic content or user-to-user services likely to be accessed by children that allow harmful content. They clarified that methods like self-declaration or debit cards are not considered highly effective, while options like credit card checks, photo-ID matching, and facial age estimation may qualify.
Apple introduces age verification for iCloud accounts in the UK
Apple has implemented an age verification system for iCloud accounts in the UK, requiring users to prove they are 18 or older to access certain services. Users can verify their age by linking a credit card or scanning an ID. The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, praised the move, noting it goes beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act.
Riot Games initiates age verification and age blocks for its titles in Brazil following new digital safety law
Riot Games is implementing age verification and age blocks for its titles in Brazil in compliance with the new ECA Digital law. Players over 18 will need to verify their age to access most games, while those under 18 will have their accounts blocked until early 2027 when Riot plans to allow access with adult permission. The law also addresses concerns about compulsive use and monetization practices targeting minors.
Brazil Now Requires Age Verification for League of Legends and All Riot Games
Riot Games has implemented mandatory age verification for all its titles, including League of Legends, VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, and Wild Rift, in Brazil starting March 17. This new policy requires players to prove their age before accessing games, raising concerns about accessibility for younger players while aligning with global trends in digital safety for minors. The move could influence other countries and game companies to adopt similar age verification systems.
Morning Safety Dance
Age-check technology is being implemented despite user dissatisfaction, with details on its functionality being revealed. Separately, Iran has launched a cyberattack against a medical technology firm, signaling potential future threats. A free privacy tool is also mentioned.
EndeavourOS Titan released, devs comment on age verification laws
EndeavourOS Titan has been released, featuring updated software like Calamares 26.03.1.3-1 and Linux kernel 6.19.6.arch1-1. The developers also commented on the emerging age verification laws, expressing concerns about their impact on the FOSS community and the practical challenges of implementation for distributions like EndeavourOS.
The Daily Grind: Would you show or upload ID to play an MMO?
The article discusses the growing trend of age verification requirements for online platforms, including MMOs, and its implications for user privacy. It references Blizzard Entertainment's past 'Real ID' controversy and compares it to current systems in China, questioning players on their willingness to share personal identification for game access.
OpenAI Restricts ChatGPT Adult Mode to Text-Only After Age-Check Concerns
OpenAI has restricted its planned ChatGPT "adult mode" to text-only conversations due to concerns about its age-verification system's reliability. The company decided to remove image, voice, and video generation capabilities after internal reports indicated the system misidentified underage users approximately 12% of the time. This move contrasts with competitors like xAI and prioritizes safety and regulatory compliance over feature expansion, delaying the feature's launch.
Valve says loot boxes are just like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit, claims it's being pressured to "collect more personal data" for "additional age verification"
Valve is pushing back against a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General's office that claims its loot boxes constitute gambling. The company argues that these "mystery boxes" are akin to collectible card games and has expressed concerns about demands for increased personal data collection for age verification. Valve states it will comply with any future legislation but intends to fight the current lawsuit.
System76 fighting for open source being excluded from Colorado age checks
System76 is actively campaigning against age verification bills in Colorado, specifically SB26-051, to protect open source software. Founder Carl Richell met with Senator Matt Ball, who suggested excluding open source from the bill, a possibility System76 hopes to extend to California's similar legislation.
Evening Metaverse
Starting next week, Australia will implement age verification requirements for players of R18+ online games, including Grand Theft Auto Online. This new policy aims to restrict access to mature-rated content for underage users.
Many more US states are planning or already have operating system age verification laws
Multiple US states, including California, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, Texas, and Utah, are implementing or planning operating system age verification laws. These laws could require device manufacturers and OS developers to implement age assurance measures, potentially impacting Linux distributions more severely than Windows. System76 founder Carl Richell criticizes the New York bill for its strict requirements and emphasizes education over restrictive measures.
From next week, Australians will need to verify their age to play GTA Online and other R18+ online games
Starting next week, Australians will be required to verify their age to access online games classified as R18+, including Grand Theft Auto Online. Publishers face significant fines if they fail to implement robust age assurance methods, a measure aimed at protecting minors from adult content online.
Resistance to operating system age checks coming from *checks notes* open source calculator and an OS that may just…
California has enacted a law requiring operating systems to verify user age during setup, with data shared with developers. This legislation, effective January 1, 2027, has met resistance from open-source projects like Fedora and MidnightBSD, with some considering excluding California residents. Similar bills are also under consideration in Colorado, sparking debate about privacy, security, and the practical implementation of such age verification methods.
Ubuntu and Fedora devs comment on California's new Digital Age Assurance Act
Linux distributions Ubuntu and Fedora are discussing how to comply with California's new Digital Age Assurance Act, which requires age verification for operating systems starting in 2027. Canonical's VP of Engineering Jon Seager stated there are no concrete plans yet, while Fedora Project Leader Jef Spaleta is exploring potential API solutions for applications to query user age brackets without telemetry.
Scientists warn against crappy age verification: 'if implemented without careful consideration… the new regulation might cause more harm than good'
Over 400 researchers and scientists have signed an open letter warning that current age verification technologies and regulations may cause more harm than good. The letter highlights significant privacy and data protection concerns, the potential for users to be pushed to dangerous fringe websites, and the risk of censorship if such systems are misused by authoritarian governments. Concerns are amplified by past data breaches, such as one involving Discord, where user IDs were exposed.
California law to require operating systems to check your age
California law AB-1043, effective January 1, 2027, will require operating system providers and app stores to implement age verification. Users will need to provide their birth date or age during account setup, which will then be signaled to applications. This law aims to protect children by providing age bracket information to software, though it raises concerns about data privacy and potential future expansions.
Discord delays controversial age verification rollout, saying it "missed the mark" following community outcry
Discord is delaying its controversial age verification rollout after significant community backlash, with co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitting the company "missed the mark" in its communication. The company will not require face scans or ID uploads from all users, instead relying on internal systems for most age determinations, with third-party verification reserved for a small percentage of users accessing age-restricted content.
