Latest news with #bypass
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Death Stranding' Is Helping UK Users Bypass Age Verification Laws
Gamers in the United Kingdom have found a surprisingly simple way to bypass online age verification checks now required by law on some websites using just a video game. An X user named Dany Sterkhov appears to be the first to discover the hack. On July 25, he posted that he had bypassed Discord's age verification check using the photo mode in the video game Death Stranding. Sterkhov made the post just days after the U.K. began enforcing the Online Safety Act—a set of laws passed in 2023 aimed at preventing children from accessing porn or other 'harmful' content related to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. Companies that fail to comply with the new laws could face fines of up to 18 million pounds ($24.2 million) or 10% of their global revenue, whichever amount is higher. According to the U.K.'s media regulator, Ofcom, platforms like Bluesky, Discord, Grindr, Reddit, and X have already committed to adding age verification systems to their platforms. 'Prioritizing clicks and engagement over children's online safety will no longer be tolerated in the U.K.,' said Ofcom executive chief Dame Melanie Dawes in a statement. '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.' But it turns out some of these age verification methods aren't all that hard to trick. The Verge and PCGamer have both tried Sterkhov's hack themselves and confirmed it works. Most of these companies rely on third-party platforms to handle age verification. These services typically give users the option to upload a government-issued photo ID or submit photos of themselves. Discord uses a platform called k-ID for age verification. According to The Verge's Tom Warren, all he had to do to pass the check was point his phone's camera at his monitor to scan the face of Sam Bridges, the protagonist of Death Stranding, using the game's photo mode. The system did ask him to open and close his mouth—something that is easy enough to do in the game. Warren was also able to bypass Reddit's age check, which is handled by Persona, using the same method. However, the trick didn't work with Bluesky's system, which uses Yoti for age verification. Discord and Reddit did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Gizmodo. Death Stranding gamers weren't the only ones trying to avoid the age verification systems. ProtonVPN reported on X that it saw an over 1,400 percent increase in sign-ups in the U.K. after the age verification requirements took effect. VPNs let people browse the web as if they were in a different location, making it easier to bypass the U.K.'s age checks. In the U.S., laws requiring similar age verification systems for porn sites have passed in nearly half the states. Nine states in the U.S. have also passed laws requiring parental consent or age verification for social media platforms.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Gizmodo
How to Bypass Age Verification on YouPorn in the UK
We'll explain how to bypass age verification on YouPorn in the UK. However, we first need to examine the cause. The implementation of the Online Safety Act on July 25th is the main culprit. It's the government's way of restricting pornography to children and minors. For a good reason! We want our children to be safe online, and thus, restricting any form of adult and obscene content makes sense. While age verification is a foolproof method, it yields certain privacy risks because of the way it works. To verify your age on YouPorn, you have to upload your government-issued ID or do a face scan. However, you can bypass age verification on YouPorn in the UK with a VPN. We'll explain how. YouPorn requires age verification for all UK visitors. The solution? Changing your online location! The same goes if you're trying to access Pornhub without verifying your age. There's no better way than using a VPN, particularly NordVPN, which is very reliable for watching porn. NordVPN offers servers in 125+ countries, unrestricted bandwidth, robust security, and vast compatibility. Above all, it swaps your old IP (one from the UK) with a new one, making you appear elsewhere. So, you can simply subscribe to NordVPN, install it, and connect to one of its servers outside the United Kingdom. Bypass Age Verification With NordVPN As a result, YouPorn will see only the new IP and give you full access! Best of all, you won't need to verify your age. Instead, all videos and website features will be operational without further steps. It's worth noting that NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you won't lose anything. You can test it, try to bypass age verification on YouPorn in the UK, and get a refund if things go south. However, according to those who have already tested this workaround, NordVPN works flawlessly for this purpose. Yes, you can! Pornhub and YouPorn's implementation of age verification can be avoided with NordVPN or any other worthy alternative. Both websites comply with the same law and use the same age verification system. If you connect to the right server, i.e., in the country where such a law isn't enacted, you can also use Pornhub without verifying your age. The workaround applies to any other adult or mature site with this issue. As the Online Safety Act requires even Reddit, YouTube, and Google to verify your age, a VPN will be more than welcome outside of YouPorn and Pornhub. Try NordVPN risk-free now Despite the new draconian law, pornography is still legal here. The Online Safety Act's role is child protection, particularly from inappropriate content. Thus, if you're an adult and want to have some private time, there's nothing wrong with bypassing age verification on YouPorn in the UK. As a child or a person under 18, it's technically illegal to consume porn. Our appreciation for this act prevents us from recommending this solution to such persons. But if you're an adult, you have the right to do whatever you want. If you want your privacy intact, this is the way to go.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hereford bypass plans progress despite opposition
Plans to build the first phase of a bypass around Hereford have passed another milestone – but strong opposition to the scheme county councillor Tracy Bowes asked cabinet member for transport Philip Price at a cabinet meeting how likely it was, given the aim of "de-trunking" the current A49 north of Grafton, that a 60mph road could be built around to the A465 to National Highways standards "for just £35m".Price said construction standards had not changed since the previously approved scheme, "which had approval from National Highways".The procurement strategy for phase one of the bypass was agreed at the cabinet meeting. Cabinet member for finance Pete Stoddart said the phase one strategy would "bring on board a contractor who is able to refine the design and provide a more informed estimate of cost", which will "inform the full business case" for leader of the Independents for Herefordshire Liz Harvey said that "if this really is such a no-brainer decision, then you really should have come up with the evidence to support it".But Liberal Democrat group leader Terry James said: "What there is, is the overwhelming majority of the public who want this to happen and who are sick to death of the shenanigans trying to stop it," he said. Independents for Herefordshire councillor David Hitchiner claimed the authority was now applying "undue haste on getting diggers on the ground".He also said the design for the road approved nine years ago terminates at a four-arm roundabout at the A465, lacking a fifth arm which would form the start of phase two across the river replied: "When we have planning permission for phase two, for which we will have the outline case by next summer, we will know how we will join the two together" – at "a four-arm roundabout that has the capability of expansion".Details of the council's approach to construction procurement and land acquisition, now approved, have not been made public for reasons of commercial news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Get to work' on northern bypass, MP pleads
An MP has called on a council to "get to work" on a bypass after councillors voted in favour of the new road following years of political gridlock. A northern bypass for Ipswich has long been suggested as a means of easing congestion - but just a fortnight ago any decision appeared to be off the cards until next year. The plan was approved last week when a Labour councillor's motion received cross-party support at the Conservative-led Suffolk County Council. "It is welcome that people from across the political divide have demanded that the administration wake up and finally take action," said Jack Abbot, Labour MP for Ipswich. "It is now incumbent on Suffolk County Council to immediately get to work and produce the plans. "If they do so, I'll work alongside them to get the funding we need from government in the long-term interests of Ipswich, Felixstowe and Suffolk." Sandy Martin, who brought the motion, said the northern bypass would not only help ease general congestion, but also boost trade at, and stemming from, the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port. "We cannot afford to have Ipswich brought to a complete standstill every time the bridge is shut, we cannot afford as a county to see Felixstowe downgraded," he added. "We cannot afford as a country to see the expensive delays and disruptions to this nation's major trade route without any mitigation measures taken." The plans were shelved in February 2020 due to a lack of political support, with councillors and the area's three Conservative MPs at the time divided on the plans. Hundreds of people protested outside the council's headquarters, claiming the scheme would destroy the countryside, increase pollution and would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds without reducing traffic. The project has had a recent resurgence in popularity after Mr Abbott said it was "bypass or bust" amid weeks of diversions and congestion during works on the Orwell Bridge. Many of the same key problems which led to the strong opposition still remained, particularly in relation to how to secure government funding for the project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In 2019, funding was reliant on 15,000 new homes being built over and above the numbers local authorities were allocated in their local plans. Conservative councillor Elaine Bryce, who played a key part in opposing the initial scheme, said the amount of development needed to unlock the funding would cause devastation in many of the villages she represented. Andrew Stringer, a Green councillor and the main opposition group's leader, said: "There must be ample opportunity to provide a bridge, tunnel, anything else other than just tearing through one of the most beautiful parts of Suffolk." Council leader Matthew Hicks, who renewed his opposition for the bypass, said: "Suffolk is waiting for a whole series of infrastructure to move forward. "Labour has failed, so far, to bring new funding." The motion was backed across party lines with 29 votes for and 12 against, while eight abstained. The authority will now seek further clarity from the government on its priorities. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Big businesses bemoan Orwell Bridge work 'failure' No decision on road plan 'until mayor elected' Bypass for town is 'of national significance' - MP
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Get to work' on northern bypass, Ipswich MP pleads
An MP has called on a council to "get to work" on a bypass after councillors voted in favour of the new road following years of political gridlock. A northern bypass for Ipswich has long been suggested as a means of easing congestion - but just a fortnight ago any decision appeared to be off the cards until next plan was approved last week when a Labour councillor's motion received cross-party support at the Conservative-led Suffolk County Council."It is welcome that people from across the political divide have demanded that the administration wake up and finally take action," said Jack Abbot, Labour MP for Ipswich. "It is now incumbent on Suffolk County Council to immediately get to work and produce the plans. "If they do so, I'll work alongside them to get the funding we need from government in the long-term interests of Ipswich, Felixstowe and Suffolk." Sandy Martin, who brought the motion, said the northern bypass would not only help ease general congestion, but also boost trade at, and stemming from, the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port."We cannot afford to have Ipswich brought to a complete standstill every time the bridge is shut, we cannot afford as a county to see Felixstowe downgraded," he added."We cannot afford as a country to see the expensive delays and disruptions to this nation's major trade route without any mitigation measures taken."The plans were shelved in February 2020 due to a lack of political support, with councillors and the area's three Conservative MPs at the time divided on the of people protested outside the council's headquarters, claiming the scheme would destroy the countryside, increase pollution and would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds without reducing project has had a recent resurgence in popularity after Mr Abbott said it was "bypass or bust" amid weeks of diversions and congestion during works on the Orwell of the same key problems which led to the strong opposition still remained, particularly in relation to how to secure government funding for the project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In 2019, funding was reliant on 15,000 new homes being built over and above the numbers local authorities were allocated in their local councillor Elaine Bryce, who played a key part in opposing the initial scheme, said the amount of development needed to unlock the funding would cause devastation in many of the villages she Stringer, a Green councillor and the main opposition group's leader, said: "There must be ample opportunity to provide a bridge, tunnel, anything else other than just tearing through one of the most beautiful parts of Suffolk."Council leader Matthew Hicks, who renewed his opposition for the bypass, said: "Suffolk is waiting for a whole series of infrastructure to move forward."Labour has failed, so far, to bring new funding."The motion was backed across party lines with 29 votes for and 12 against, while eight authority will now seek further clarity from the government on its priorities. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
