British entrepreneur Elon Musk is reportedly developing age verification for X in the UK, and Microsoft's Xbox division could potentially borrow this concept.
In the digital age, the issue of age verification has become a pressing concern for many online platforms. One service, X, has recently unveiled a multi-layered approach to age verification that seeks to address common flaws and improve robustness over existing methods.
The new system combines historical account data, biometric AI, and traditional ID proofs to create a comprehensive solution. Accounts created before 2012 are assumed to belong to adults, leveraging the history of long-held accounts to infer age without repeated checks. This approach reduces the reliance on single-point measures vulnerable to manipulation.
In addition, X allows users to upload official IDs (passport or driver's license) along with a selfie through a secure portal. AI-based facial age estimation is also employed, analyzing live selfies to estimate age. Other signals, such as prior self-attested age, legacy verified status, and official organization badges, are used to further strengthen age assurance.
This multi-layered approach aims to tackle issues like account sharing, document forgery, and AI being fooled by virtual avatars or photo mode tricks in games. Elon Musk has even suggested that Xbox could emulate or improve on X's method by adjusting criteria to better fit their user base.
Meanwhile, platforms like Xbox and Discord have faced criticism for their age verification methods. Xbox uses Yoti for age verification, allowing users to take a photo or scan a government-issued ID. However, it has been noted that Discord's age verification system can be bypassed using the photo mode in certain games. Some sites allow the upload of a generic driver's license to bypass age verification, raising concerns about the effectiveness of these systems.
Recent developments in UK law require websites to verify the age of users accessing adult content. The UK's Online Safety Act, which went into effect last Friday, applies to sites like Discord and Reddit. Accounts old enough to legally drink in the UK should be verified automatically, while users can also verify their age by entering their credit card details or mobile phone number.
Microsoft is also implementing age verification for Xbox users due to local laws. Users need to sign in to their profiles and verify their age with an approved method. If someone else uses an account verified through Yoti, they can still let others use their account, but the age verification remains tied to the account.
However, it's important to note that this method by X has its flaws. Someone could have lied about their age in 2012, and several Reddit users have Xbox accounts over 20 years old. Despite these limitations, X's innovative approach to age verification sets a new standard in online safety and provides a model for other platforms to follow.
In the face of growing concerns about online privacy and security, X's multi-layered age verification system offers a promising solution. By combining historical account data, biometric AI, and traditional ID proofs, X is addressing issues with age verification and paving the way for a safer online environment.
- While Microsoft is implementing age verification for Xbox users, Elon Musk has suggested that Xbox could emulate or improve on X's method for their user base.
- In addition to Xbox, platforms like Discord have faced criticism for their age verification methods, with some sites allowing the upload of a generic driver's license to bypass age verification.
- The new age verification system by X combines historical account data, biometric AI, and traditional ID proofs to create a comprehensive solution, reducing the reliance on single-point measures vulnerable to manipulation.
- Accounts created before 2012 on X's service are assumed to belong to adults, leveraging the history of long-held accounts to infer age without repeated checks.
- Repeated checks for age verification are reduced on X's system as accounts created before 2012 are assumed to belong to adults, while other signals like prior self-attested age and official organization badges are used to further strengthen age assurance.
