Bluesky is adding age verification to its platform in the UK as part of its efforts to comply with the requirements of the SAFE Online Act. An update to the platform released on Thursday said it will allow users to verify their age by scanning their face, uploading an ID or entering a payment card.
Bluesky will perform age verification using Kid Web Services (KWS), a tool owned by Epic Games that developers can use to implement age verification and parental controls on their platforms. If users do not wish to verify their age or if they are under 18, they will still be able to have an account with limited features. Bluesky will block “adult content” and disable certain features, such as direct messages.
In 2023, the United Kingdom passed the Suspicious Internet Act, which privacy advocates warn will “lead to a much more censored, blocked Internet for British users.” Another part of the law comes into force on July 25, requiring sites and apps that contain porn and harmful content to provide “highly effective age verification.” Platforms that fail to comply with the new rules will be fined up to £18 million ($24 million) or 10 percent of their global revenue, whichever is greater.
As soon as the age requirement goes into effect, Bluesky says it will show users in the UK a message asking them to verify their age. Judging by the images published by Bluesky, UK users will first have to register their email with KWS, which will send them instructions on how to verify their age. “In addition to these updates, we will continue to analyze how we are protecting children from inappropriate content and how we can improve this work,” Bluesky wrote in a statement.
