Twitch launches age verification requiring UK users to scan their face

Twitch has rolled out a new age verification system that will make users in the UK scan their faces in an effort to “keep our community safe.”

On September 15, Twitch users who sign up will need to comply with local laws within the United Kingdom, and that means scanning their faces with age estimation technology to confirm their age.

The Amazon-owned platform prohibits anyone under 13 from making an account, and while that won’t change, there’s now an extra step users will need to jump through to access content when they sign in.

Luckily, this won’t apply to everyone, but if you’re someone who lives in the UK, be prepared to scan your face.

Why is Twitch adding age verification scans?

The UK recently introduced stricter age verification measures for mature content online. Users now have to pass a facial scan to prove they’re over 18, something that’s sparked backlash for its clunky implementation and potential privacy issues.

Reception to this change has certainly been mixed from UK residents, with people generally being frustrated by the barrier of having to do face ID every time they want to access an age-gated section of the internet.

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On Twitch, when you sign in, you’ll be sent to a “Verify Your Age” screen that will require you to remove glasses or headgear and scan your face to determine your age in order to access the site. This will also let users view certain content, such as mature-rated games.

“To protect your privacy, Twitch and k-ID (a third-party vendor we partner with to verify your age) do not store your face scan video selfies. The video selfie used for facial age estimation is analyzed entirely on your device and will never leave it,” Twitch notes, adding that the information provided won’t be used for anything other than age verification.

Many Twitch viewers aren’t pleased with this change with one sarcastically joking it’s “not dystopian at all.”

“Yeah, I don’t really need Twitch in my life that much,” another said, hinting about quitting the platform.

Users have found ways around the age verification technology, however. In an act of protest, some used Norman Reedus’ face from Death Stranding to dupe the facial recognition.

Some, meanwhile, haven’t been so lucky, even when showing their faces. For instance, Britain’s “most tattooed man” was unable to access websites because the tech wrongly believed his tattooed face was a mask.