Stricter Age Restrictions Implemented at X: Potential Issues with Verification Procedure for Some Users
In the UK, the platform X (formerly Twitter) is implementing age verification checks to comply with the Online Safety Act. This legislation mandates that platforms verify users' ages before granting access to sensitive or adult content.
X uses a combination of automated signals, such as self-declared age, account age, verification badges, email, and social connections, to estimate user age. If these methods are inconclusive, users may be asked to manually verify their age by uploading a government-issued ID or using biometric face age estimation via a selfie. However, manual ID or selfie verification is currently only available to X Premium subscribers [1][2][3].
Free users must rely on indirect data, and if age cannot be verified, they are blocked from accessing sensitive content. To bypass these age checks, the most common and reliable workaround is the use of a VPN. By connecting through a VPN server located outside the UK, users can mask their IP address and access content without undergoing intrusive age verification [1][3][5].
It's important to note that while using a VPN to bypass age gates is legal in most jurisdictions, including the UK, it may violate X's terms of service. No alternative legal workarounds have been publicly confirmed other than waiting for X's promised future rollout of free manual verification methods, which are not yet available [3].
X's Age Assurance policy outlines methods for age verification, including self-attested age, ID verification, legacy verified public figures, account creation date, grey badged accounts, and gold badged accounts. Users in the UK who have not verified their age will not see 18+ content on their timeline or receive a message about temporary content restrictions [4].
The use of VPNs has led to concerns about the security and privacy of the data submitted for age verification. Sensitive data such as ID images, selfies, face data, and data extracted from the ID are collected for verification purposes. While Au10ticx and Persona delete images of the IDs, selfies, and data extracted from the ID after 30 days, it's unclear if these user-involved verification methods are currently available [2].
Some users have reported that two types of ID are required for verification, even after purchasing X Premium. One Reddit user in Spain reported that they were still receiving the "due to local laws" message despite verifying their ID and subscribing to X Premium [3].
In conclusion, the age verification process on X in the UK is a complex issue, with concerns about privacy, security, and access to content. The use of VPNs is a common workaround, but it's important to consider the potential risks and legal implications.
References:
[1] TechRadar
[2] The Verge
[3] Wired
[4] X's Age Assurance Policy
[5] TechCrunch
- Despite concerns about security and privacy, users may resort to using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass age verification checks on X, given the current limitations for free users and the potential delays in the rollout of manual verification methods for all users.
- As cybersecurity measures become increasingly stringent in the realm of personal-finance apps and platforms, it would be optimal for technology companies like X to invest in developing more secure and user-friendly age verification mechanisms, ensuring both compliance with regulatory requirements and the protection of users' sensitive data.
