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Instagram launches age verification tool in UK allowing users to prove they’re over 18 using VIDEO SELFIE
- Users trying to edit their DOB to be over 18 will be asked to verify their age
- They can upload a photo of their ID or record a personal video
- Instagram said the new system will help users have an age-appropriate experience on the site.
Instagram is introducing technology to help age users in the UK and EU as part of a major security update.
Starting today, people trying to edit their birthday on Instagram from under 18 to over 18 will be asked to verify their age by submitting their ID, or record a personal video that will be analyzed by special digital technology.
Instagram said the new system will help users have an age-appropriate experience on the site.
Instagram is introducing technology to help age users in the UK and EU as part of a major security update
Internet safety advocates have long called for age-blocking technology to be passed online to protect children from inappropriate and harmful content.
Instagram’s estimation system sees the company working with UK firm Yoti, which specializes in the technology.
The two companies said that after a user records their selfie and shares it with Yoti, which uses its technology to analyze facial expressions and then share an estimate with Instagram.
They note that Yoti’s technology is not facial recognition technology, so it cannot identify or recognize anyone – it only needs to determine the age of the screen being displayed.
No account information is shared with Yoti in this process and the image will be deleted immediately by Yoti and Instagram after an estimated year, the firms said.
Instagram began testing the system in other countries earlier this year.
Tara Hopkins, Instagram’s policy director, said: ‘We want everyone to experience Instagram in a way that’s appropriate for their age, which means we know their age – and this is a challenge across our industry.
Users can choose to upload a picture of their ID if they prefer not to use the video self-verification tool
That’s why today’s announcement is such an important step, and why we’re so excited to work with Yoti, who are leading the way in creating effective technology to verify age and privacy .
‘This work complements our ongoing work to improve our age detection technology and develop new ways to give young people the safest and most meaningful experience possible on Instagram.’
Julie Dawson, head of policy and legal officer at Yoti, said: ‘Proofing online generation is a complex, industry-wide challenge.
‘We’re excited to continue working with Meta to create the right experiences for the age, so people can thrive and stay safe online.
‘Our face number estimation is a privacy protection solution.
‘We created it to give everyone a safe way to prove their age without revealing their name or ID documents.
‘Technology can allow minors to access information appropriate for their age, while protecting users’ privacy.
‘Today’s announcement is another step towards creating safer online environments.’
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