UK Regulators Want Social Media to ID Kids Like Adult Sites
Britain's ICO and Ofcom tell tech giants to deploy serious age verification to keep under-13s off platforms.
The UK's data watchdog ICO and communications regulator Ofcom have jointly told social media companies to step up their game on age verification. The demand: implement "highly effective age checks" to prevent children under 13 from creating accounts.
The kicker? They want the same caliber of tools already required for adult content sites. That's a significant escalation from the loose self-policing most platforms currently rely on.
Major tech companies are now on notice to deploy robust verification systems rather than the easily bypassed birthday dropdowns that pass for age gates today.
The joint regulatory push signals the UK is getting increasingly aggressive about child safety online. Platforms that drag their feet could find themselves in the crosshairs of two powerful regulators simultaneously.
No specific deadline has been publicly outlined yet.