Youtubes Requirement for Government ID: Difference between revisions
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==YouTube's Government ID Requirement== | ==YouTube's Government ID Requirement== | ||
On July 29th, 2025, in response to the [[UK Online Safety Act|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 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 |date=29 Jul 2025 |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/#:~:text=We%20will%20use,for%20younger%20users. |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref><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 decides not to, 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. | On July 29th, 2025, in response to the [[UK Online Safety Act|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 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 |date=29 Jul 2025 |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/#:~:text=We%20will%20use,for%20younger%20users. |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref><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 decides not to, 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. | ||
Youtube is now requiring creators to reupload IDs and video verification on a yearly basis to keep access to advanced features. If they don't, they will lose access to those features, and sending a message to allow them to keep the video verification for longer. <ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Aug 2025 |title=Youtube ID age verification can EXPIRE? |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xt33K4LNMIo |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=Youtube}}</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 — this update is about using better technology to make these estimations." 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> | 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 update is about using better technology to make these estimations." 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> | ||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
Some users have signed a [https://www.change.org/p/youtube-s-ai-tracks-everything-you-watch-stop-this-now Change.org petition] (with 122,305 verified signatures as of | Some users have signed a [https://www.change.org/p/youtube-s-ai-tracks-everything-you-watch-stop-this-now Change.org petition] (with 122,305 verified signatures as of 22 Aug 2025) 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> The petition has not received a response from YouTube as of the time of writing. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:YouTube]] | [[Category:YouTube]] | ||