Key Takeaways
1. Reddit will implement an age verification system in the UK to comply with the Online Safety Act, requiring users to upload a selfie or ID for access to certain mature content.
2. The verification process will be handled by a third-party service called Persona, which will not have access to users’ uploaded photos, only storing verification status and birthdates.
3. Reddit may expand age verification to other regions in the future and is introducing a voluntary option for users to provide their birthdates globally for content and ad appropriateness.
4. User reactions to the announcement are mixed, with concerns about unclear definitions of restricted content and potential negative consequences, such as pushing minors to less safe websites.
5. The Online Safety Act has faced criticism from organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation for potentially creating a more censored internet and compromising user privacy and security.
Reddit has shared that it will start using an age verification system in the UK. This will require users to upload a selfie or a government-issued identification card if they want to access “certain mature content.”
Compliance with Online Safety Act
The information was released on r/RedditSafety, stating that this step is necessary to follow the UK’s Online Safety Act, which must be in place by July 25. The law is intended to protect children from sensitive content and requires social media platforms and search engines to adopt a verification method for “user safety.”
Third-Party Verification
Reddit plans to work with a third-party service, Persona, for verifying identities. They mention that they “will not have access to the uploaded photo.” The platform will only keep your “verification status and the birthdate you provided so you won’t need to enter it again each time you want to see restricted content.”
Persona, an identity verification company established in 2018 and based in the US, claims it will not keep your photo for more than seven days. It also states that it won’t “have access to your Reddit data such as the subreddits you visit.”
Future Age Verification Plans
Reddit also recognizes that as new regulations emerge, they might need “to collect and/or verify age in areas outside of the UK.”
Additionally, the platform is launching a global option for users to provide their birthdates “to help make sure that content and ads are age-appropriate.” This option will be completely voluntary and only required in countries that need it.
Community Opinions
The announcement sparked mixed reactions among Reddit users, with many noting that the description of “restricted content for minor users” was unclear. One user remarked, “On Reddit, a few swear words on your account will eventually get your account flagged as NSFW. Will I need to verify to see your profile due to some profanity? Will all your posts and comments be hidden from me? Who knows.”
Others agreed that this whole situation was “just a mess” and would “have the opposite effect of its intent,” pushing “children to visit more sketchy websites that don’t follow this ruling.” Plus, VPNs exist.
Interestingly, Persona is a US company operating outside the EU, meaning they aren’t technically subject to the law, at least not until the Kids Online Safety Act is passed in the US.
Criticism of Online Safety Act
Numerous organizations have already criticized the flaws in the Online Safety Act. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that this legislation “will create a more censored, restricted internet for British users” and will give the government the power “to undermine the privacy and security of UK residents as well as internet users around the world.”
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