Youtubes Requirement for Government ID: Difference between revisions

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==YouTube's Government ID Requirement==

On July 30th, 2025, 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> YouTube announced that it will be testing a new feature on its platform which ~~requires users~~ to ~~provide~~ a government issued ID to verify ~~whether or not they are~~ at least 18 years old.<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.

On July 30th, 2025, 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> YouTube announced that it will be testing a new feature on its platform which scans each user's channel history (including viewed videos) with AI, to which in case of determination that the user is underage (regardless of birthdate in 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=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 the user refuses, their account will be unable to access age restricted, "potentially mature content" (which has been shown to include several videos critical of Google and YouTube{{Citation needed}}, whether by coincidence or not) and content deemed as problematic for repetitive consumption, on top of losing access to many creator features and abilities, if they were activated prior.

Critics say this 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> 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."

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." 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 |title=Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=YouTube Help}}</ref>

~~In the past~~, ~~YouTube has demonetized videos based on AI or algorithmic criteria. Creators who have sought to have the ability~~ of ~~their videos to continue making money have often received vague~~ or ~~no answer as to why the~~ video ~~was in violation~~.<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> ~~Some users are concerned similar occurrences will happen with the new age verification enforcement.~~

==Consumer response==

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 ==YouTube's Government ID Requirement==
-On July 30th, 2025, 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> YouTube announced that it will be testing a new feature on its platform which requires users to provide a government issued ID to verify whether or not they are at least 18 years old.<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.
+On July 30th, 2025, 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> YouTube announced that it will be testing a new feature on its platform which scans each user's channel history (including viewed videos) with AI, to which in case of determination that the user is underage (regardless of birthdate in 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=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 the user refuses, their account will be unable to access age restricted, "potentially mature content" (which has been shown to include several videos critical of Google and YouTube{{Citation needed}}, whether by coincidence or not) and content deemed as problematic for repetitive consumption, on top of losing access to many creator features and abilities, if they were activated prior.
-Critics say this 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> 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."
+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." 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 |title=Learn about feature access for YouTube Creators |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9890437?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=YouTube Help}}</ref>
-In the past, YouTube has demonetized videos based on AI or algorithmic criteria. Creators who have sought to have the ability of their videos to continue making money have often received vague or no answer as to why the video was in violation.<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> Some users are concerned similar occurrences will happen with the new age verification enforcement.
 ==Consumer response==