Since the end of July, British Internet users have to deal with new moderation rules. Online SAFETY ACT requires digital platforms to check the age of users trying to access content deemed inappropriate for minors, whether they are 18+ classified music, explicit podcasts or violent scenes. Spotify is now one of the services concerned.
90 days to prove his age … or lose your account
On its site, the musical streaming giant explains that some users will have to go through an “age insurance” procedure. Concretely, this means that an verification via facial recognition or identity document is necessary to view certain clips deemed unsuitable for the youngest. This measure applies to videos reported as reserved for adults by their beneficiaries.
Spotify has teamed up with Yoti, a company specializing in digital identity, already used by several banks and governments. The Yoti application makes it possible to estimate the age of a person via an analysis of their face. If in doubt, the user is invited to provide an official document.
And the stakes are high: if a user cannot prove his age, his account will first be deactivated, then deleted after 90 days! Spotify provides a short reactivation window – seven days – during which the user can try a new verification. But without satisfactory evidence, access to the platform will be definitively refused.
« If you cannot confirm that you are old enough to use Spotify, your account will be disabled, then deleted », Can we read on the service help page.
This hardening does not only concern Spotify. Services like Xbox, Reddit or X (ex-owner) also apply more strict age controls. Adult sites must require checks before any access. In the event of a breach, fines of up to 10 % of turnover can be imposed.
The law is not unanimous. A petition against online Safety Act has already collected more than 420,000 signatures. The British government is camping on its positions: there is no question of making a back machine. In this context, Spotify seeks to be proactive. “” We are proud to collaborate with Spotify to create safer and age experiences “Explains Robin Tombs, Yoti’s CEO. According to him, the young people will be ” better protected against inappropriate content ».
But for many users, the security turn is also perceived as an intrusion. There are serious fears for privacy, without forgetting the frustration of seeing its access blocked. In the United Kingdom, listening to “explicit” music will now require a little more than a simple click.
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