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In July, a UK-based Discord user, known only as Siyan, hit a roadblock when trying to access certain NSFW text chats. Why? The channel had been flagged as age-restricted due to the UK’s new child safety laws, which now require users to prove they’re over 18. Discord’s recent updates mandate age verification through either a government-issued ID or a facial scan—options that many find either invasive or downright impractical.
Age Verification: A New Normal
Siyan, who prefers to stay anonymous for privacy reasons, shared he felt “painfully over the age of needing to fake an ID.” But here’s the catch: he was hesitant to upload a photo of his ID. Adding to his frustration, the face scan feature wasn’t available on mobile, and Siyan didn’t have a webcam handy. In a moment of inspiration, he decided to use someone else’s face for the verification. His first idea? An emoji that looked like an “old dude,” which he often used in chats. But he quickly discovered that age verification requires multiple poses and expressions—way more than a simple emoji could deliver.
So, how did he get around this? Siyan turned to his gaming library for help. He discovered that two games, “Stellar Blade” and “Death Stranding,” had photo modes that let players pose characters and set facial expressions. Ultimately, he went with “Death Stranding,” featuring a character modeled after actor Norman Reedus, famously known for his rugged role as Sam.
After snapping some screenshots of Sam showing the right expressions, Siyan shared his results on Discord. A friend then posted the images on X, and before he knew it, Siyan’s creative workaround went viral. This inspired others to explore similar tactics using characters from games like “God of War.”
Implications of Age Verification Laws
It seems that age verification is becoming the new standard in the UK, and it’s likely that other countries will follow suit. Even tech giants like Google are rolling out AI-driven age estimation systems for platforms such as Search and YouTube. Gaming platforms like Roblox are also ramping up their safety measures with age checks. Yet, critics argue that these systems are far from foolproof. Users are already finding ways to bypass facial scans by using video game characters.
As generative AI technology continues to evolve, enforcing age verification will become even more challenging. Reports reveal startups are developing AI capable of generating realistic video content in real-time. Meanwhile, concerns about providing personal information are on the rise, especially after recent security breaches exposed sensitive user data.
While the goal of age verification is to protect minors—particularly on platforms like Roblox, where inadequate moderation has led to troubling predatory behavior—the measures for adult content sites like Pornhub aim to restrict kids from accessing explicit material. Yet, as David Maimon, head of fraud insights at SentiLink, points out, the methods in use today can easily be circumvented.
Challenges and Concerns
Maimon highlights the numerous loopholes users can exploit within the age verification process. Criminals, in particular, are skilled at identifying vulnerabilities in these systems, often staying one step ahead of regulatory efforts. The reliance on IDs, facial scans, and liveness checks raises red flags; many users express distrust toward third-party services managing their sensitive data.
Take, for example, a 20-year-old user who wished to remain anonymous. He reported successfully passing age verification using “God of War.” Another user, known as Antsy, achieved similar results with “Arma 3.” Both described their experiences as challenges to conquer rather than mere compliance with rules. Antsy voiced his support for internet safety but added that the responsibility for protecting children shouldn’t rest solely on technology.
As users find creative ways to navigate age verification using video game characters, alarms are being raised about potential privacy violations. They argue that requiring people to submit facial data for platforms like Discord is an overreach of government authority. With concerns about the misuse of personal information escalating—especially in light of recent data breaches affecting apps like Tea—the conversation is becoming more urgent.
In conclusion, while age verification aims to create safer online spaces for minors, the effectiveness and ethical implications of these systems are under intense scrutiny. As users continue to devise clever workarounds, the ongoing discussion about privacy, security, and the role of technology in safeguarding young people remains as critical as ever.