YouTube now requires EU, EEA, UK & Swiss viewers to physically verify age before they can watch age restricted videos

[Master Disaster]

I've just heard about this, a few UK based video creators were confused as to why their videos were getting no views. One discovered that, while trying to view his own video, he was asked to verify his age by either, sending Google a photo of a valid ID or, by entering his credit card information and remember, this was to watch his won video in his own creators dashboard.

 

I haven't seen many people talk about this so I'll use Google's own help documentation for quotes and sourcing.

 

Nothing in the first section seems unreasonable.

Quote

To provide age-appropriate experiences when people come to YouTube, we have certain policies on what content is age-restricted. This means content that isn't appropriate for viewers under 18 will be age-restricted.

What this means for viewers

Age-restricted videos are not viewable to viewers who:

• Are logged out
• Are under 18 years of age
• Are watching YouTube videos embedded on most third-party sites

It seems as though this is a move that's being pushed by the EU (when isn't it)

Quote

If you're in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is an EU-wide coordination of national legislation on audiovisual media – both traditional TV broadcasts and on-demand services. Recently, AVMSD was revised to extend certain rules to video-sharing platforms (VSPs). 

 

In line with AVMSD, you may be asked to re-verify your date of birth when watching age-restricted videos. Follow the prompts to submit an image of a valid ID or credit card.

 

Learn more about what we do with your ID/credit card. 

And finally a second page outlines the procedure to get validation.

Spoiler

Quote

Access age-restricted content & features

Some content and services are subject to age verification. To access age-restricted content or services, we may ask to confirm your date of birth using a valid credit card or a picture of your ID.

Use a credit card for age verification

1. If you attempt to access age-restricted content or features, and you’re asked to verify your age, select Verify.
2. Select Use a credit card to verify immediately.
3. Follow the instructions to enter your credit info.

How credit card verification works

If you enter your credit card info for age verification, Google can use it to:

• Confirm your credit card is current and valid.
• Confirm you're old enough to access certain content, features, or services.

You won't be charged to verify your age.

Important: If you enter your credit card info for age verification, Google will retain this data as necessary to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Use an ID for age verification

1. If you attempt to access age-restricted content or features, and you’re asked to verify your age, select Verify.
2. Select Use your ID.
3. Under “Confirm your date of birth” select:
   • Next if your date of birth is correct.
   • Correct date of birth if it’s incorrect.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to agree to ID verification.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to take a photo of your ID.
6. Select Submit ID.

Tips for ID verification

Make sure that your ID image:

• Shows the full document with all 4 corners
• Is clear, in color, with no glare
• Is large enough to see the words

Find valid types of ID for age verification

Some examples of a valid government ID may include your:

• Driver’s license
• Passport
• National ID card

When you select an ID for verification, keep in mind that:

• The types of ID you can use for age verification may vary by country.
• Your country may have additional restrictions or other types of ID that you can use for age verification.
• You may be able to submit a valid ID from your home country, even if you live somewhere else.

Get country-specific guidance

 

How ID age verification works

If you upload a copy of your ID, your ID will be securely stored, won’t be made public, and will be deleted after your date of birth is successfully verified.

Google may use your ID to:

• Confirm your ID is current and valid.
• Confirm you're old enough to access certain content, features, or services.
• Improve our verification services for Google products and protect against fraud and abuse.

In certain cases, your ID may be subject to manual review in accordance with Google security policies. Google will email you when the review is complete.

 

Sources

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10070779?hl=en-GB#zippy=%2Cif-youre-in-the-european-union-eu-european-economic-area-eea-switzerland-or-the-united-kingdom

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/10071085?p=age-verify&visit_id=637599429774445759-2525518091&rd=1

 

My Thoughts

The EU is at it again, as pointed out in the video I mentioned, YouTube has already started using this as a tool to silence videos they don't like. As it stands now, if you live in the EU, UK or Switzerland and one of your videos gets flagged as being age restricted its basically a dead video. YouTube simply won't promote it to anybody who hasn't verified their age. The fact they did this silently speaks volumes about their intentions, the less people that verify their age, the more successful YouTubes censoring will be.

[DoctorNick]

It's easy though. Add bank card to Google Pay. Delete card from Google Pay.

[tikker]

So now they finally also want to harvest our physical data huh  

 

I never quite fully understood the age restriction thing. Don't get me wrong, it's good that it is there, but sometimes it's very random. Like for some reason video #9 in a DOOM series is restricted for violence, but the rest isn't.

[Master Disaster]

4 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

It's easy though. Add bank card to Google Pay. Delete card from Google Pay.

Its not about the ease of compliance. Its about the silent way this has been implemented.

 

I live in the UK, I wasn't told about this change (and I'd guess nobody in any affected regions were), this means that many videos I would have been notified of have totally passed me by because I had no idea I had to take an extra step in order to view them.

 

You see the problem? YouTube can now stick a flag on a video and effectively kill it dead while the platform users have no idea what's happening.

[Moonzy]

trust me bro, i was born in 1304

[kirashi]

10 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

It seems as though this is a move that's being pushed by the EU (when isn't it)

 

The EU is at it again, as pointed out in the video I mentioned, YouTube has already started using this as a tool to silence videos they don't like.

YouTube isn't using this as a silencing tool - they're legally required to comply with AVMSD in certain countries.

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/protection-minors-avmsd

[WolframaticAlpha]

Spoiler

What the f*ck? Physical verification? Are you f*cking kidding me?

 

 

 

EU GDPR was all fine and nice. But this is now just stupid. Implementing a physical age verification is hard and nobody would want to do that. Just say, "I am 13+" or "I am 18+". Why the hell do you have to put these stupid checks? It is again like that cookie acceptor. Good in theory, pain in the ass when it is implemented.

 

 

 

[Master Disaster]

Just now, Moonzy said:

trust me bro, i was born in 1304

I remember, back when Steam first introduced Age Verification on the store, I misclicked and entered the wrong age and it blocked me from viewing all 18+ games until I signed out and back in again

[leadeater]

5 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

You see the problem?

No, and you didn't either.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Let me guess, other sites, you know the ones, are still totally accessible no issues or age verification required? 1 + 1 = 3 going on here a bit I think.

[Master Disaster]

1 minute ago, kirashi said:

YouTube isn't using this as a silencing tool - they're legally required to comply with AVMSD in certain countries.

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/protection-minors-avmsd

Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

 

They get forced to implement a system then implement it in such a way that it directly benefits them, sounds like a Google thing to me.

[Kilrah]

Had to go through it a couple of weeks ago. For the kind of video I was watching it was a good thing, if all you need is tick "I'm 18+"  it's too easy (and I never understood why that was a legally accepted thing since it never achieves anything).

[Master Disaster]

1 minute ago, leadeater said:

No, and you didn't either.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Let me guess, other sites, you know the ones, are still totally accessible no issues or age verification required? 1 + 1 = 3 going on here a bit I think.

 

I think you misunderstand (maybe I wasn't clear in the OP), I'm not saying the system is a bad idea (it really isn't), I'm saying Google are using the system in a way that allows them to censor the platform.

[leadeater]

Just now, Kilrah said:

Had to go through it a couple of weeks ago. For the kind of video I was watching it was a good thing, if all you need is tick "I'm 18+"  it's too easy (and I never understood why that was a thing since it never achieves anything).

Problem with Youtube is that there isn't a proper classification board, not that I agree with many of the classifications those groups make but at least they are A) Independent (ish), B) Have published standards and guidelines, C) Somewhat consistent with their judgements.

[leadeater]

Just now, Master Disaster said:

I think you misunderstand (maybe I wasn't clear in the OP), I'm not saying the system is a bad idea (it really isn't), I'm saying Google are using the system in a way that allows them to censor the platform.

Probably my post that isn't so clear, it's Google doing that funky math and coming up with their own thing. Not unsurprising though.

[captain_to_fire]

Can't kids have credit card extensions or a supplementary card from their parents and use it? Because I used to have one even before I was 18.

 

[Arika S]

Reminds me of the porn pass that the UK wanted to implement, but to a much more mild degree.

[ZeouLs]

I think the worst part about this is that google can share those Informations

Quote

For external processing

We provide personal information to our affiliates and other trusted businesses or persons to process it for us, based on our instructions and in compliance with our Privacy Policy and any other appropriate confidentiality and security measures. For example, we use service providers to help us with customer support.

https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en#infosharing

 

I also want to add, in certain countries like germany, you are supposed to black out the information, that is not required for verifying your age. E.g. your picture, place of birth, signature. If you do that though, you get an E-Mail saying that google couldnt verify your age, because you blacked out certain areas.

 

EDIT: I also wanted to add that under german law, they are also required to delete the copy of your ID after verifying your Information.

[Kilrah]

1 minute ago, captain_to_fire said:

Can't kids have credit card extensions or a supplementary card from their parents and use it? Because I used to have one even before I was 18.

 

They don't accept prepaid cards and probably those either. Had to use my ID as mine didn't work. 

[SorryClaire]

1 minute ago, Kilrah said:

(and I never understood why that was a thing since it never achieves anything).

Because as long as they tick that box that means the user consented to whatever the fuck they serve. Just another of the hallmarks where the law is half arsed.

[captain_to_fire]

Just now, Kilrah said:

They don't accept prepaid cards and probably those either. Had to use my ID as mine didn't work. 

Not sure if what I had was a prepaid card from 15 years ago but as far as I remember, my mom back set a spending cap on the supplementary card issued to me in order to monitor how much I am spending and prevent bill shock. Prepaid cards like these from Visa are reloadable which I don't think was the case with a supplementary card tied to a principal credit card.

[Master Disaster]

20 minutes ago, leadeater said:

Let me guess, other sites, you know the ones, are still totally accessible no issues or age verification required? 1 + 1 = 3 going on here a bit I think.

I'm going to guess that, since this is an EU regulatory thing its going to become common place for all sites serving videos and those that don't comply will just get blocked out of the BLOC.

 

The end of the free internet beginneth now

(just in this, ^ is hyperbole, not meant to be taken literally)

[Akolyte]

I think overall this is a great idea to prevent minors from watching potentially damaging content, which is incredibly easy today.   

 

In my opinion though, perhaps there should be a better way than just entering personal information onto a site (what if a site gets hacked?  what if they aren't abiding by GDPR? what if the site is actually fake and just harvesting user data?)

 

I agree with some here that the implementation could have been better.   Make it a big deal, because people probably need to change their content to suit their demographic better (ie: if they cater their content to children then removing potentially child unfriendly content). 

 

 

[Master Disaster]

2 minutes ago, Akolyte said:

I think overall this is a great idea to prevent minors from watching potentially damaging content, which is incredibly easy today.   

 

In my opinion though, perhaps there should be a better way than just entering personal information onto a site (what if a site gets hacked?  what if they aren't abiding by GDPR? what if the site is actually fake and just harvesting user data?)

 

I agree with some here that the implementation could have been better.   Make it a big deal, because people probably need to change their content to suit their demographic better (ie: if they cater their content to children then removing potentially child unfriendly content).

I would have been fine with this if Google had just told me about it.

 

You know something dodgy is going on when creators are finding out about it through being blocked out of their own videos.

[jagdtigger]

4 minutes ago, Akolyte said:

I think overall this is a great idea to prevent minors from watching potentially damaging content, which is incredibly easy today.   

Or what if parents instead of giving a phone to the kid so they will keep silent would do their efing job and actually act as parents?

[whispous]

19 minutes ago, Arika S said:

Reminds me of the porn pass that the UK wanted to implement, but to a much more mild degree.

Ah yes, the government run database of exactly who has watched what type of content

 

Even if that wasn't an intention, it would still have been information they'd have been keeping, and eventually leaking.