Photo by Pew Nguyen
Spotify has begun enforcing mandatory age verification for users in the United Kingdom, warning that accounts may be suspended or permanently deleted if users do not comply with new requirements under the UK Online Safety Act.
The legislation, which officially came into effect on Friday 25 July, mandates that digital platforms implement age-gating mechanisms to prevent underage access to potentially harmful or inappropriate content. In response, Spotify has introduced a system requiring users attempting to access age-restricted material, such as music videos labelled 18+, to verify their age either through facial recognition technology or the submission of a government-issued photo ID.
The streaming platform, alongside other tech companies operating in the UK, is now legally obligated to adopt stricter safeguarding policies. Under the new verification process, users are first prompted to enable camera access on their device. Facial recognition is then conducted via an external Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Yoti, which uses biometric data to estimate the user’s age.
If the system determines a user to be underage, or the scan fails to verify their eligibility, they are offered the option to upload official identification instead. Those who do not complete the verification process successfully risk having their accounts deactivated. Spotify has stated that such accounts will be permanently deleted if the age check is not passed within a 90-day window.
According to the platform’s terms of service, UK users must be at least 13 years old to register for an account. Users under the age of 18 are required to have the consent of a parent or guardian.
In a statement, Spotify assured users that all data collected during the verification process will be encrypted and subsequently deleted by Yoti. The company has also noted that while it does not store age documentation directly, it will use the outcomes of the checks to “improve our ability to provide an age-appropriate experience.”
The decision to introduce stringent ID verification has raised eyebrows among some users and commentators, particularly as Spotify continues to face criticism for its handling of other controversial issues, ranging from the spread of misinformation on its platform to executive leadership decisions. Most recently, CEO Daniel Ek came under fire for taking on the role of chairman at an AI military start-up, following a €600 million investment, prompting renewed debate about the company’s ethical commitments and user trust. Critics argue that while Spotify is now taking a hardline stance on age-restricted content, it has been comparatively slow to address broader concerns around platform accountability and transparency.
