Internet users in the UK deal with a growing concern: age verification, a potential invasive infringement on privacy.
In the digital age, the UK's Online Safety Act has introduced new rules aimed at protecting minors online, with a focus on secure age verification methods. These methods include facial age estimation, digital identity services, photo-ID matching, bank verification, credit card verification, and email age estimation.
The impact of these new rules extends beyond adult sites, reaching platforms that allow user-generated content and interactions. The data collected for age verification is intended to be used solely for verifying the user's age and cannot be used for targeted advertising or any other purpose.
Under the best practices for secure age verification, platforms must use robust, privacy-preserving methods such as facial age estimation, photo ID checks, or credit card verification that confirm age without unnecessarily collecting or storing personal data. These methods must comply with UK data protection laws, minimizing the collection of personal information and avoiding retention wherever possible.
VPNs can enhance privacy and security online by encrypting internet traffic and masking the user's real IP address. However, while VPNs are legal in the UK, they can be used to bypass age verification, posing challenges for enforcement of the law. To prevent bypassing protections, platforms must block VPN promotion and usage targeted at children.
The normalization of age verification contradicts the principle of data minimization and supports a growing trend of de-anonymization, leaving users more vulnerable to tracking, surveillance, and fraud. Many third-party verification services are based in the US, where individuals' personal data can be subject to government scrutiny under the Patriot Act.
A data breach involving these verification services could impact millions of Britons, potentially making their personal data available for sale on the dark web. Cybercriminals targeting these services could use the personal information for phishing campaigns, identity theft, or other malicious activities, including access to users' credit card information.
To address these concerns, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has worked with Ofcom to create guidelines for platforms handling user-submitted data in a privacy-friendly way. Any user data must be kept solely for the purpose of age verification and not stored for longer than necessary, as per the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.
Sites that host adult content must have reliable age checks in place to keep minors from accessing their content. Social media sites, dating apps, instant messaging services, video-sharing platforms, and even cloud-sharing services are affected by the new rules.
A robust virtual private network (VPN) can help protect your data by masking your IP address, encrypting your data, and reducing the risk of falling victim to phishing scams and cyberattacks. However, while VPNs are useful for protecting personal data, they can facilitate bypassing these controls and are therefore targeted by enforcement measures under the Act.
In conclusion, the UK's Online Safety Act aims to balance robust proof of age with strict data privacy principles. Users are advised to use VPNs responsibly and be aware of the potential risks associated with bypassing age verification controls. Platforms, on the other hand, must prioritize user privacy and comply with data protection laws to ensure a secure and safe online environment for all users.
[1] Ofcom (2023). Age-appropriate design code: guidance for online services providers. Retrieved from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/127200/Age-appropriate-design-code-guidance-for-online-services-providers.pdf [2] Information Commissioner's Office (2023). Age-verification: guidance for online services providers. Retrieved from https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/children/age-verification/ [3] UK Government (2023). Online Safety Bill: Government responds to consultation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-safety-bill-government-responds-to-consultation [4] House of Commons (2023). Online Safety Bill: Second Reading. Retrieved from https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-03-08/debates/7E94D45C-2162-4D60-8854-418F72F9E848/OnlineSafetyBill
- With the online safety rules, consoles, tablets, desktops, and all computing devices may require additional age verification for user-generated content platforms, complying with UK data protection laws.
- The UK's Online Safety Act emphasizes the use of robust, privacy-preserving computing methods such as facial age estimation, photo ID checks, or credit card verification that confirm age without unnecessarily collecting or storing personal data.
- The increased adoption of cybersecurity measures in technology, including secure age verification, raises concerns about user data being available for sale on the dark web, potentially affecting millions of Britons and leading to fraudulent activities.
