Spotify threatens to ban users who don't pass new ID checks
Following the introduction of the Online Safety Act, users in the UK are now required to provide proof of their age via facial recognition or photo ID to access certain content
Spotify is threatening to ban users who fail to pass an age verification check following the introduction of the UK Online Safety Act.
The new rules came into force on Friday (July 25), with users in the United Kingdom now being asked to provide proof of age when attempting to access "certain age restricted content, like music videos tagged 18+".
The streaming service is among a number of online platforms now required to implement safety measures to prevent under-18s from accessing "harmful content", after the UK Online Safety Act came into force last week.
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According to Spotify's terms of service, users can provide proof of their age by passing a "facial estimation check"; a prompt will ask account holders to turn on camera access on digital devices, before "face-scanning technology" from an external Identity Service Provider (IDSP) named Yoti will provide an estimate of their age.
If users fail to pass the check due to the technology deeming them underage, they can then upload a government-issued photo ID instead.
However, Spotify warns that users who don't pass either check will have their accounts "deactivated and eventually deleted" if they are not old enough to use the service. Spotify users in the UK must be at least 13, with "parental/guardian consent" required for under 18s.
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While the streaming platform claims ID and age information submitted by users will be "encrypted" and "deleted by Yoti", Spotify says it will "use the results of the process to improve our ability to provide an age-appropriate experience" for users.
Users who have their accounts deactivated will have 90 days from the moment they are banned to pass the age verification check to reactivate their account. If no action is taken, their profiles will be "permanently deleted".
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter
