Substack to require age verification for UK users
In a significant move to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, newsletter platform Substack has announced that it will require users in the UK to verify their age before accessing certain content. This legislation, which came into effect in July 2023, mandates that websites featuring explicit material implement age verification methods, such as using banking information or facial recognition technology. While primarily aimed at adult sites, the law has prompted various “safe-for-work” platforms, including YouTube, to adopt similar measures. Substack’s decision reflects a growing trend among online platforms to navigate the complexities of age-verification laws that have emerged globally in recent years.
In a blog post published on October 20, Substack expressed its reservations about such regulatory measures, arguing that while they may be well-intentioned, they often fail to achieve their intended goals and can hinder free expression. The platform emphasized its commitment to comply with local laws, outlining the process for age verification. Users attempting to access content categorized as potentially harmful will be prompted to verify their age, with paid subscribers already having their ages verified through payment methods. The platform has identified several types of content that will be restricted to adults, including sexually explicit material, content promoting self-harm, and hate speech. This move comes at a time when Substack has faced scrutiny for hosting controversial content, including alt-right and neo-Nazi writings, which may now be blurred for non-verified users in the UK.
Substack’s new age verification process requires users to complete a facial scan, with recommendations to have a government ID on hand in case of verification failures. The platform will retain the age estimate following verification, allowing users to request a manual review if they believe their content has been incorrectly categorized. As more platforms grapple with the implications of age verification laws, Substack’s actions underscore the balancing act between regulatory compliance and the preservation of free speech in the digital age.
Newsletter platform Substack will require users in the UK to verify their age to comply with the
Online Safety Act
.
The Online Safety Act, which went into effect late July this year, requires websites containing explicit content to install one of several possible ways to assure a visitor’s age, such as one’s banking information or a facial recognition scan. It’s just one of many
age-verification laws
that have been enacted globally in the last few years. Adult site Pornhub complies with the UK’s law — but some “SFW” sites have started age-verifying as well, such as
YouTube
.
SEE ALSO:
Pornhub asked tech platforms to enable device-level age verification
Now, Substack has become the latest to require more data from its users. On October 20, Substack published a blog post about its
position on the Online Safety Act
, stating that it “cautions against regulatory measures like these.”
“Though they are often well-intentioned, these laws are not necessarily effective at achieving their stated aims, and they come with real costs to free expression,” the post states. “They introduce friction, forcing an identification step before people can read on the internet.”
The post went on to state that despite this, “we respect the right of countries to set their own laws, and we comply with local regulations where required.”
It outlined the steps it would take to comply, including that if content is labeled under a category covered by the law, anyone viewing it on a browser or the Substack app may see a notice requiring them to complete age verification before viewing it. Substack caveated that paid subscribers are verified due to their banking information, and other subscribers may be verified already through other platforms. (This blog also mentions
Australia’s upcoming age-verification law
, but subsequent posts don’t.)
The list of content
restricted to adults
, according to Substack’s Help Center, includes:
Sexually explicit or pornographic content
Content that encourages self-harming behaviors (i.e. eating disorders and suicide)
Bullying or harassment
Hate targeting people based on protected characteristics (like race and sexual orientation)
Violent or graphic material
The platform updated a Help Center page titled, ”
Why is Substack asking to verify my age?
” on Tuesday. Substack explained that a publication’s chat, DMs, comments, and Notes may be blurred or blocked if they fit within the Online Safety Act’s definition of “potentially harmful content.”
It also laid out instructions for how to complete a facial scan. It recommends grabbing a government ID “in case the selfie verification fails,” as well.
Substack stated it will retain the age estimate following the verification process.
If content is blurred that you don’t believe falls under the Online Safety Act, you can request a manual review.
In the last few years, many
users left Substack
due to the platform hosting alt-right and Neo-Nazi content. Those posts will now likely get blurred in the UK for non-verified users.
