Reddit will commence age verification for users in the UK in accordance with a new law effective this month. “The UK Online Safety Act necessitates extra measures to inhibit children from reaching content unsuitable for their age,” remarked Reddit’s chief legal officer Ben Lee, also known as u/traceroo, on r/RedditSafety. Beginning July 14, UK users will need to confirm their age to access mature content.

The UK Online Safety Act, enacted in 2023, requires platforms hosting restricted content to establish age verification by July 24. Although many utilize Reddit for child-friendly content, it also features NSFW subreddits impacted by this legislation.

Reddit has collaborated with Persona, a third-party age verification service. UK users are required to submit a selfie or government-issued ID so that Persona can confirm they are over 18. Users who do not pass this check will be barred from accessing restricted content, which includes sexually explicit materials.

Reddit underscores that this system solely verifies age, not identity. Persona will not have access to which subreddits users visit and will not keep uploaded images for more than seven days. Nonetheless, providing a driver’s license for access to adult content may unsettle some users.

“Reddit will not view the uploaded picture and will only retain your verification status and supplied birthdate to prevent re-entry for restricted content access,” stated Lee. “Your birthdate is never visible to others or advertisers and helps enhance safety features and age-appropriate experiences on Reddit.”

As Reddit rolls out Persona’s age verification in the UK, it is also implementing changes in other regions. Lee disclosed that users would have the option to provide their birthdate to “enhance your Reddit experience,” customizing content and advertisements based on age.

Lee suggested there would be updates to verify whether a user is human or an AI bot, with further details coming soon.

“We’re closely monitoring the evolution of the law,” they wrote. “No set timeline. We continue to advocate for alternative solutions that do not require platforms to request IDs.”

Age verification regulations evoke concerns regarding digital privacy. Lee indicated Reddit might oppose such regulations as they are currently structured.

“Is Reddit merely observing or actively resisting this legislation?” inquired user u/shiruken. “Why can’t digital wallets on smartphones facilitate age/identity verification for applications and services?”

“Wow, it’s like you were privy to my discussions with regulators…” responded Lee.

The UK Online Safety Act demands websites to gather user data and validate age, delegating compliance to the platforms. Advocates for free speech and digital privacy express worries about age verification demands, labeling them ineffective, impractical, and privacy-compromising.

A device-centric system would retain age verification on the user’s device, with pre-installed restrictions on barred sites lifted once age confirmation is achieved.

Pornhub has supported device-based age verification frameworks, asserting consistent enforcement. Pornhub’s parent organization Aylo will validate the ages of UK users under the new law but has not revealed what information it will gather. Aylo has restricted access from multiple U.S. states due to age verification laws.

Governments worldwide are concentrating on online age verification. Australia intends to implement age checks for users signed into Google or Microsoft accounts by the end of the year. While experts agree that children should not have access to unsuitable material, skepticism persists about the efficacy of age verification regulations.