Social Media Giants Demand ID for Age Verification, Expert Cites Data Risks
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Sources not specified
New plan
- Social media platforms like Reddit, X, and Anthropic are requiring age verification for users, often through third-party services.
- This is driven by the EU's Digital Services Act, which mandates reliable age checks for adult content.
- An expert warns that this process carries risks, as user data could potentially fall into the hands of U.S. authorities.
Social media giants are implementing new age verification measures, prompted by the European Union's Digital Services Act. Platforms such as Reddit, X, and Anthropic are now requiring users to confirm their age, often using third-party services like Persona. This move aims to comply with regulations that mandate reliable age verification for access to adult content.
Reddit, for instance, began asking users suspected of being underage to verify their age through an external service in June. These requests have appeared seemingly at random. The process involves users being prompted to identify themselves using a selfie or a national ID card.
However, data privacy expert Harto Pönkä has raised concerns about the implications of these verification methods. He warns that the personal data collected during this process could potentially be accessed by U.S. authorities, highlighting a significant risk to user privacy.
The data may end up in the hands of U.S. authorities.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
