Key Takeaway
Yoti’s age verification system requires users to show their face to a camera, using algorithms to estimate age. Biometric data is deleted post-verification, but users failing the facial check must provide government-issued ID, raising privacy concerns. Spotify warns that users who cannot verify their age will face account deactivation and potential deletion, a significant shift from previous content restriction methods. This policy may impact users uncomfortable with facial recognition or lacking proper ID, highlighting the tension between privacy and compliance with age requirements in digital platforms.
Technical Implementation Raises Privacy Concerns
Yoti’s system requires users to present their face to the phone camera, with proprietary algorithms estimating their age based on facial features.
Both companies stress that biometric data will be deleted immediately after the verification process is complete.
Users who do not pass the facial recognition check will need to provide government-issued ID as an alternative method of verification.
The backup ID process can be accessed through account settings, but this raises additional privacy concerns for users hesitant to share personal documents.
Account Deactivation Poses Risks to User Access
Spotify has issued serious warnings regarding the implications of failing verification checks.
“You cannot use Spotify if you do not meet the minimum age requirements for your market,” the platform states in its help documentation.
“If you cannot confirm that you are old enough to use Spotify, your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted.”
This policy could impact users who prefer not to undergo facial recognition scanning or who lack acceptable identification documents.
The threat of permanent account deletion marks a significant escalation from previous content restriction methods employed by streaming platforms.
