In a significant update aimed at enhancing user safety and complying with new laws, the streaming giant Twitch has rolled out a new age verification system. UK-based users may be required to scan their faces using age estimation technology to confirm their age, a measure directly influenced by stricter age verification laws for online mature content.
The Amazon-owned platform, which has long prohibited accounts for those under 13, is now adding an extra step to ensure viewers are of legal age to access certain content, such as mature-rated games. While the new measure isn’t a blanket requirement for all UK users, those attempting to access age-gated material will be prompted to undergo the facial scan.
Twitch has partnered with a third-party vendor, k-ID, to facilitate the process. In a statement aimed at allaying privacy concerns, the company has clarified that the face scan video selfies are not stored. “The video selfie used for facial age estimation is analyzed entirely on your device and will never leave it,” a Twitch statement noted.
The move has generated a mixed bag of reactions from the UK community, with some expressing frustration over the new barrier and citing potential privacy issues. Some users have reportedly found creative ways to circumvent the system.
Australia’s Own Looming Age-Gate
This development in the UK provides a compelling preview of what may be in store for Australian social media users. The Australian government has passed new legislation, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which comes into effect on December 10, 2025. This landmark law will require “age-restricted social media platforms” to take “reasonable steps” to prevent Australians under 16 from having an account.
Unlike the UK’s approach, which focuses on age-gating mature content for adult users, the Australian laws place the onus on platforms to prevent underage users from accessing the service at all. While the specific technologies and methods platforms will use remain a point of discussion, the Australian government’s guidelines promote a “layered approach” to age assurance, which could include facial estimation technology, but will not compel users to use government-issued ID as the sole method of verification.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has stated that platforms like Twitch, along with others such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, will need to demonstrate that they are taking sufficient measures to comply or face potential fines of up to $49.5 million. The Australian legislation explicitly prohibits a “one-size-fits-all” approach and is designed to ensure user choice and privacy are protected.
For both British and Australian users, the era of frictionless online access may be drawing to a close, as regulators and platforms alike grapple with the complex challenge of protecting younger users in the digital world.
