How this popular game is helping UK gamers bypass new age verification laws
Gamers in the UK have reportedly discovered a method to bypass online age verification checks, which have now been mandated in the country on some websites, by using a popular video game. Recently, a user on the social media platform X (earlier Twitter) named Dany Sterkhov claimed to have bypassed Discord's age verification by using the photo mode in the video game
Death Stranding
. This discovery comes just days after the country started enforcing the Online Safety Act, a set of laws passed in 2023. These laws aim to prevent children from accessing pornography or other content deemed "harmful," including material related to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
Companies failing to comply with the new regulations face potential fines of up to 18 million pounds ($24.2 million) or 10% of their global revenue, whichever amount is greater. According to the U.K.'s media regulator,
Ofcom
, platforms such as Bluesky, Discord, Grindr, Reddit, and X have already committed to implementing age verification systems.
In a recent statement, Ofcom executive chief Dame Melanie Dawes said:
'Prioritising clicks and engagement over children's online safety will no longer be tolerated in the UK. Our message to tech firms is clear – comply with age-checks and other protection measures set out in our Codes, or face the consequences of enforcement action from Ofcom.'
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How gamers are bypassing age verification laws in UK
Several companies depend on third-party services to conduct age verification. These systems usually allow users to either upload a government-issued photo ID or submit selfies for verification.
Discord uses a service called k-ID. According to a report by The Verge, users were able to complete the process by using the photo mode in Death Stranding, pointing their phone at the screen to scan the face of the game's main character, Sam Bridges. The system prompted them to open and close his mouth—something the game allowed him to replicate.
The report added that the same approach worked with Reddit's age verification system, which Persona manages. However, it was unsuccessful with Bluesky's verification process, which relies on a platform called Yoti.
In the US, nearly half the states have passed laws requiring similar age checks for access to adult content. Additionally, nine states have implemented laws mandating parental consent or age verification for users on social media platforms.
Attempts to bypass these systems weren't limited to gamers using Death Stranding. ProtonVPN shared on X that it experienced a more than 1,400% increase in sign-ups in the UK following the introduction of age verification rules. VPNs allow users to browse as though they are in a different region, making it easier to get around local age restrictions.
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