Reddit Enforces Age Verification in UK, Igniting Privacy and Compliance Debate

In a pivotal response to the UK's Online Safety Act, Reddit has announced it will begin verifying the ages of users accessing mature content starting July 14. The law, which mandates strict age checks by July 24 for platforms hosting restricted material, targets Reddit's extensive NSFW subreddits—a significant segment of its ecosystem. As Reddit's chief legal officer Ben Lee stated in a r/RedditSafety post: "We will begin collecting and verifying your age before you can view certain mature content... to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate content."

How Verification Works and Privacy Safeguards

Reddit has partnered with Persona, a third-party age verification service, to handle the process. UK users attempting to access restricted content must upload a selfie or government ID, which Persona uses to confirm they are over 18. Those who fail verification are blocked. Reddit emphasizes privacy: Persona won't track subreddit visits, uploaded images are deleted within seven days, and Reddit stores only verification status and birthdate—not the actual ID. Lee clarified: "Reddit will not have access to the uploaded photo... Your birthdate is never visible to other users or advertisers." Despite these assurances, the requirement has sparked user unease, as uploading sensitive documents to view adult material introduces new data risks.

Broader Implications and Industry Pushback

This isn't just a UK-centric change. Reddit is also introducing optional birthdate collection globally to tailor content and ads, hinting at future measures to distinguish humans from AI bots. Lee noted, "We're carefully watching how the law evolves... we continue to advocate for alternative approaches that don’t require platforms to ask for IDs." This stance echoes wider criticism from digital privacy experts, who argue that site-based verification is ineffective and risky. As one user questioned on Reddit, "Why can't digital wallets on smartphones enable age verification?"—a reference to device-based systems where age is confirmed once at the device level, reducing repeated data exposure.

Globally, similar regulations are unfolding, from Australia's search-engine age checks to U.S. state laws that prompted platforms like Pornhub to block access. Adult sites advocate for device-based verification as a more secure standard, but fragmented laws force platforms into ad-hoc compliance. For developers, this signals a growing burden: building and maintaining verification systems while navigating evolving regulations could stifle innovation and increase liability. As Reddit's move shows, the tech industry must now grapple with a fundamental tension—protecting minors without eroding user trust in an increasingly regulated digital landscape.

Source: Mashable