Spotify is rolling out a new way to check the ages of its users in the United Kingdom. To comply with the country’s new Online Safety Act, the streaming giant will now use facial scans to verify a user’s age before they can access explicit content.
The new system, developed in partnership with the digital identity company Yoti, is the same one used by Instagram. When a UK user tries to listen to or view age-restricted material, they may be prompted to scan their face. The technology then estimates their age based on the photo.
Of course, these scans aren’t always perfect. If the system gets it wrong, users will have the option to prove their age by providing a form of ID instead.
The consequences of failing the check can be significant. It’s not just about blocking explicit content. If Spotify determines that a user is below the platform’s minimum age of 13, their account will be deactivated and eventually deleted. “If you cannot confirm you’re old enough to use Spotify, your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted,” the company warned.
Spotify is just the latest major company to implement these kinds of age checks in the UK. The country’s new Online Safety Act has forced a wide range of platforms, from social media sites like Reddit to gaming services like Xbox, to find ways to restrict access for minors.
