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{{IncidentCargo
{{IncidentCargo
|StartDate=2025-07-30
|Company=YouTube, Google
|StartDate=30 July 2025
|EndDate=
|Status=Active
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=YouTube
|ProductLine=YouTube
|Product=Youtube
|Product=YouTube
|ArticleType=Service
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Digital restrictions
|Type=Digital Restrictions, Privacy
|Description=YouTube is requiring Users to give their government id to verify that they are adults, otherwise Users will be locked out of content.
|Description=YouTube now uses AI to estimate user age. Users deemed underage are required to upload their government ID to bypass age-based restrictions.
}}Users' privacy is being violated by [https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition YouTube's new policy.] The policy requires Users to provide a government issued ID in order to access content.  
}}
[[YouTube]] has implemented an AI-powered [[age verification]] system, which scans the user's channel history to determine their age. If the user is deemed to be under the age of 18, they will lose access to age-restricted videos and certain site features, unless a government-issued ID or video verification is provided.


==Background==
==Background==
[[YouTube]] is a social media site created on February 14th, 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTube turns 20! The numbers behind the platform |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/ztq2g2p |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=BBC Bitesize}}</ref> It allows Users to both upload and view video form content from their electronic devices. Over time, certain individuals, known as content creators, began to make a living off this platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molenaar |first=Koba |title=15 of the Most Popular Content Creators on YouTube to Check Out |url=https://influencermarketinghub.com/content-creators-youtube/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=Influencer Marketing Hub}}</ref> As the popularity of the platform grew, more requirements became necessary. However, more recently, YouTube has been using the requirements as a loophole to take more away from the User.
[[YouTube]] is a social media site created on 14 February 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=YouTube turns 20! The numbers behind the platform |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/ztq2g2p |website=BBC |date=2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214080310/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/ztq2g2p |archive-date=14 Feb 2025}}</ref> It allows users to upload and view videos from their electronic devices. As the platform has grown in popularity, a few content creators have begun to make significant amounts of revenue from their videos, with some creators able to use their earnings as a primary source of income.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Creator Economy |url=https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/creator-economy/ |website=[[YouTube]] |date= |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528085016/https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/creator-economy/ |archive-date=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Molenaar |first=Koba |title=15 of the Most Popular Content Creators on YouTube to Check Out |url=https://influencermarketinghub.com/content-creators-youtube/ |website=Influencer Marketing Hub |date=25 Nov 2024 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251005042256/https://influencermarketinghub.com/content-creators-youtube/ |archive-date=5 Oct 2025}}</ref>


==YouTube's Government ID Requirement==
==YouTube's government ID requirement==
Recently, on July 30th, 2025, YouTube has announced that they will be testing a new feature on its platform which requires Users to provide a government issued ID to verify if they are 18.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Michael |date=30 Jul 2025 |title=YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature |url=https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=GameRant}}</ref> If Users refuse, their account will be unable to access any content. This is in response to the UK's Online Safety Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Online Safety Act: explainer |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=GOV.UK}}</ref> This act requires companies to verify their Users' ages on their platform. This, however, violates America's first amendment right to the free speech of people and the press.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution of the United States |url=https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=Constitution Annotated}}</ref>
On 29 July 2025, in response to the [[UK Online Safety Act|UK's Online Safety Act]],<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Online Safety Act: explainer |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer |website=GOV.UK |date=24 Apr 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221095654/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> YouTube announced that it would be testing a new feature on its platform which scans each user's channel history (including viewed videos) with AI which, if it's determined that the user is under-age (regardless of birth date in their [[Google]] account), a government-issued ID or video verification will be required to verify that the user is at least 18 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beser |first=James |title=Extending Our Built-in Protections To More Teens On YouTube |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/extending-our-built-in-protections-to-more-teens-on-youtube/ |website=[[YouTube]] Official Blog |date=29 Jul 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729181349/https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/extending-our-built-in-protections-to-more-teens-on-youtube/ |archive-date=29 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=Michael |title=YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature |url=https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |website=GameRant |date=30 Jul 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730234131/https://gamerant.com/youtube-new-age-verification-feature-id-recognition/ |archive-date=30 Jul 2025}}</ref> If the user decides not to, their account will be unable to access age-restricted "potentially mature content" and content deemed as problematic for repetitive consumption, as well as losing access to many creator features and abilities (if they were activated prior).


===YouTube's Response===
Additionally, YouTube now requires creators to re-upload IDs and video verification if the user has:
YouTube has [https://x.com/TeamYouTube/status/1950958354349633946 responded] stating that "This won’t be required for all users. We’ve always had the option for age verification via ID or credit card if someone is incorrectly estimated to be under 18." Although, they have not corrected previous errors with AI they had in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albright |first=Dann |date=22 Feb 2024 |title=YouTube Demonetization: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Avoid It |url=https://www.uscreen.tv/blog/how-to-survive-youtube-demonetization/#:~:text=YouTube%20demonetization%20happens%20when%20a,process%20is%20largely%20the%20same.) |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=Uscreen}}</ref>
 
*Failed to make use of the advanced features;
*Allowed the previous video verification to be deleted after the 30-day notice is given; and
*Does not have a suitably built-up channel history
 
If they do not want to lose access to the advanced features, the user can choose to keep their video "for one more year". As YouTuber "DeepHumor" pointed out in his YouTube Short on the matter, "YouTube could keep your ID or video verification for literal years. And that is without mentioning the fact that over the years, YouTube has been sued for more than a billion dollars for violating privacy laws."<ref>{{Cite web |author=DeepHumor |title=Youtube ID age verification can EXPIRE? |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xt33K4LNMIo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=22 Aug 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.org/watch?v=xt33K4LNMIo |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref>
 
YouTube has responded stating that:
<blockquote>"This won't be required for all users. We've always had the option for age verification via ID or credit card if someone is incorrectly estimated to be under 18 — this update is about using better technology to make these estimations."<ref>{{Cite web |author=@TeamYouTube |date=31 Jul 2025 |title=TeamYouTube on X |url=https://x.com/TeamYouTube/status/1950958354349633946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415164413/https://nitter.catsarch.com/TeamYouTube/status/1950958354349633946 |archive-date=15 Apr 2026 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |website=[[X]]}}</ref></blockquote>
 
This most likely refers to their eligibility system for advanced creator features, of which ID and/or video verification is a method of gaining access.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437 |website=[[YouTube]] Help |date=16 Aug 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829151136/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437 |archive-date=29 Aug 2025}}</ref>


==Consumer response==
==Consumer response==
Users are left frustrated by this requirement. As such, users have signed a [https://www.change.org/p/youtube-s-ai-tracks-everything-you-watch-stop-this-now petition] and have contacted YouTube to revoke this new requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Belanger |first=Ashley |date=12 Aug 2025 |title=YouTube backlash begins: “Why is AI combing through every single video I watch?” |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/50k-youtubers-rage-against-ai-spying-that-could-expose-identities/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> However, their concerns have been ignored by YouTube as they doubled down on keeping the requirement.  
Some users have signed a [[Change.org]] petition (with 130,086 verified signatures as of 24 January 2025) and have contacted YouTube to revoke this new requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Gerfdas Gaming |title=YouTube’s AI Tracks Everything You Watch — Stop This Now |url=https://www.change.org/p/youtube-s-ai-tracks-everything-you-watch-stop-this-now |website=Change.org |date=July 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128031157/https://www.change.org/p/youtube-s-ai-tracks-everything-you-watch-stop-this-now |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belanger |first=Ashley |title=YouTube backlash begins: “Why is AI combing through every single video I watch?” |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/50k-youtubers-rage-against-ai-spying-that-could-expose-identities/ |website=Ars Technica |date=12 Aug 2025 |access-date=24 Jan 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812180249/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/50k-youtubers-rage-against-ai-spying-that-could-expose-identities/ |archive-date=12 Aug 2025}}</ref> As of 24 January 2026, the petition has not received a response from YouTube.  


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:YouTube]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

Latest revision as of 00:50, 19 April 2026

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YouTube has implemented an AI-powered age verification system, which scans the user's channel history to determine their age. If the user is deemed to be under the age of 18, they will lose access to age-restricted videos and certain site features, unless a government-issued ID or video verification is provided.

Background

[edit | edit source]

YouTube is a social media site created on 14 February 2005.[1] It allows users to upload and view videos from their electronic devices. As the platform has grown in popularity, a few content creators have begun to make significant amounts of revenue from their videos, with some creators able to use their earnings as a primary source of income.[2][3]

YouTube's government ID requirement

[edit | edit source]

On 29 July 2025, in response to the UK's Online Safety Act,[4] YouTube announced that it would be testing a new feature on its platform which scans each user's channel history (including viewed videos) with AI which, if it's determined that the user is under-age (regardless of birth date in their Google account), a government-issued ID or video verification will be required to verify that the user is at least 18 years old.[5][6] If the user decides not to, their account will be unable to access age-restricted "potentially mature content" and content deemed as problematic for repetitive consumption, as well as losing access to many creator features and abilities (if they were activated prior).

Additionally, YouTube now requires creators to re-upload IDs and video verification if the user has:

  • Failed to make use of the advanced features;
  • Allowed the previous video verification to be deleted after the 30-day notice is given; and
  • Does not have a suitably built-up channel history

If they do not want to lose access to the advanced features, the user can choose to keep their video "for one more year". As YouTuber "DeepHumor" pointed out in his YouTube Short on the matter, "YouTube could keep your ID or video verification for literal years. And that is without mentioning the fact that over the years, YouTube has been sued for more than a billion dollars for violating privacy laws."[7]

YouTube has responded stating that:

"This won't be required for all users. We've always had the option for age verification via ID or credit card if someone is incorrectly estimated to be under 18 — this update is about using better technology to make these estimations."[8]

This most likely refers to their eligibility system for advanced creator features, of which ID and/or video verification is a method of gaining access.[9]

Consumer response

[edit | edit source]

Some users have signed a Change.org petition (with 130,086 verified signatures as of 24 January 2025) and have contacted YouTube to revoke this new requirement.[10][11] As of 24 January 2026, the petition has not received a response from YouTube.

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ "YouTube turns 20! The numbers behind the platform". BBC. 2025. Archived from the original on 14 Feb 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  2. ↑ "Creator Economy". YouTube. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  3. ↑ Molenaar, Koba (25 Nov 2024). "15 of the Most Popular Content Creators on YouTube to Check Out". Influencer Marketing Hub. Archived from the original on 5 Oct 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  4. ↑ "Online Safety Act: explainer". GOV.UK. 24 Apr 2025. Archived from the original on 21 Feb 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  5. ↑ Beser, James (29 Jul 2025). "Extending Our Built-in Protections To More Teens On YouTube". YouTube Official Blog. Archived from the original on 29 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  6. ↑ Ingram, Michael (30 Jul 2025). "YouTube is Rolling Out A New Controversial Feature". GameRant. Archived from the original on 30 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  7. ↑ DeepHumor (22 Aug 2025). "Youtube ID age verification can EXPIRE?". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  8. ↑ @TeamYouTube (31 Jul 2025). "TeamYouTube on X". X. Archived from the original on 15 Apr 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  9. ↑ "Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators". YouTube Help. 16 Aug 2025. Archived from the original on 29 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  10. ↑ Gerfdas Gaming (July 2025). "YouTube's AI Tracks Everything You Watch — Stop This Now". Change.org. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2026. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
  11. ↑ Belanger, Ashley (12 Aug 2025). "YouTube backlash begins: "Why is AI combing through every single video I watch?"". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 12 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Jan 2026.
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