Many governments have recently introduced online age verification laws, requiring users of various sites to prove they are of legal age before getting access.
These measures largely aim to protect minors from harmful content, but they’re not always perfect when it comes to protecting the gathered data. Some services have been caught retaining info like IP (Internet Protocol) addresses during the age verification process, putting user privacy at risk.
Read on to learn more about these new age check requirements, privacy risks associated with them, and why you should consider protective steps like a VPN before and during the upload of any personal data.
What is online age verification?
Online age verification is a way for websites to check if someone is old enough to access certain pages or view specific content. This process helps ensure that only people who meet the age requirements can view things that might be inappropriate for younger users.
Age verification measures are often implemented to follow relevant laws or company policies. Beyond legal compliance, age verification also supports a safer internet experience. It can build trust between service providers and users, give parents peace of mind, and limit children’s exposure to material not meant for them.
However, today’s age verification isn’t just clicking a box labeled I’m 18 or older. Modern techniques typically involve sharing personal data — like your ID or actual location — which has become a key concern for privacy advocates.
How does age verification work?
Age verification requirements vary by region due to different local laws and regulations. Some countries may mandate stricter checks on sites with adult content, while others only need users to declare their age on social media platforms.
Most well-known sites rely on third-party providers that specialize in age verification systems. These services can use a wide range of methods to confirm a user’s age.
Common age verification methods include:
- ID upload: uploading a photo of a government-issued ID, like a passport or driver’s license;
- Selfie with ID: taking a live selfie while holding your photo ID;
- Facial recognition: using biometric scans to match your face to your ID photo;
- Facial age estimation: employing software to assess your likely age via photos or live video;
- Payment verification: making a credit card payment (applicable in areas where cards can only be issued to adults);
- Cross-check with other providers: contacting your bank, mobile operator, or credit card providers to confirm your age;
- Linking a verified digital ID account: connecting an established digital identity account that’s provided by national or regional authorities
While these age verification checks are usually handled by reliable tools with robust privacy policies, critics often see this data collection as a violation of user privacy.
Where do age verification laws exist?
Age verification laws are becoming more common globally, and each country’s regulatory approach is unique. Here’s a quick overview:
United States
The USA doesn’t have a federal mandate, but several states have passed laws of their own requiring websites offering adult content to implement ID checks. These states include Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
These regulations have prompted some sites to introduce statewide shutdowns. For instance, social media platform Bluesky blocked access from Mississippi IP addresses instead of forcing users to share private information.
On a national level, it’s unclear what action might be taken. The Trump administration has simultaneously supported age checks while opposing online censorship, and the US Congress has yet to propose any age verification laws.
United Kingdom
The UK Online Safety Act from 2023 mandates strict age verification on adult websites and social networks that may display harmful content. UK users on many mainstream platforms, including video-sharing sites (YouTube, Vimeo) and platforms popular among gamers (Twitch, Discord, Steam), now need to confirm their age, even if they’ve had accounts for decades.
The Online Safety Act is explicitly designed to protect children from threats like self-harm, but its far-reaching restrictions on website access have generated a lot of controversy.
Canada
Canada does not yet have robust online age verification laws in place. However, legislation on this matter has already been proposed.
Bill S-210, also known as the Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act, aims to restrict online access to inappropriate material for individuals under 18. If it passes, websites that fail to prevent minors from accessing such content via age checks would be fined.
Australia
On top of a 2025 social media ban on all under-16 users, age verification is also required on many kinds of websites that could potentially harm minors. Even search engines like Google and Microsoft’s Bing need to check the age of every logged-in user or face financial penalties.
Australia has its own Online Safety Act that predates the UK’s by two years. It gives the government sweeping powers in addressing issues like cyberbullying or sharing intimate images without consent. The law also makes online service providers responsible for keeping users safe from any content deemed dangerous.
European Union
EU member states follow the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) to preserve user privacy, but there are EU-wide laws, such as the DSA (Digital Services Act), that direct online platforms to use age verification checks in certain cases.
In addition, many countries have also implemented their own age-gating systems:
- France: adult websites must verify user age due to the SREN Law. Sites that fail to meet these requirements risk being blocked by French ISPs (Internet Service Providers);
- Germany: the Jugendschutzgesetz (Youth Protection Act) enforces stringent age checks on a range of pages with harmful content, from adult sites to gaming platforms;
- Italy: the country’s AGCOM regulatory agency introduced age verification measures in late 2025, restricting access to adult content. The systems use “certified third parties” that already have the needed data and claim to uphold privacy through “double anonymity.”
Each country has its own rules and requirements, so age verification systems need to detect your location to determine which set of laws applies to your visit. This, along with the use of photo IDs or biometric scans, means your privacy may be at risk.
Privacy risks of online age verification
Age verification laws and standards have some benefits, but online checking systems create the following privacy concerns for users:
- Sensitive data exposure: uploading government-issued ID documents, biometric scans, or payment card data can put highly sensitive personal information in the hands of third-party databases. If poorly managed, your data can end up leaked to cybercriminals;
- Tracking: a 2025 investigation in Germany found that Yoti, an age verification app for Instagram, Spotify, and others, was tracking users without consent. User IP addresses and device IDs were transmitted to services like Google during the document upload process. These services could collect data to build user profiles for targeted ads and link verification sessions to a user’s broader online identity;
- Data breaches: no database is immune to hacking. If a third-party validator suffers a data breach, user records — including names, addresses, photos, or ID numbers — could be leaked online. In fact, Discord revealed ID photos of 70,000 users may have been leaked in an October 2025 cyberattack;
- Overcollection: some services retain more personal data than what’s strictly required for age checks. Every extra piece of information that gets stored online can create more headaches if any account ever gets compromised;
- Phishing: in a phishing attack, scammers can create look-alike sites with fake verification pages that harvest any data you upload;
- Centralization risks: more centralized and extensive data collection makes websites more attractive to hackers. A single leak or attack on an age verification database could expose millions of sensitive user records.
For all these reasons, using robust privacy tools should be a standard practice before, during, and after online age verification.
How a VPN helps protect your privacy
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a privacy tool that masks your IP address details and reroutes your internet traffic through a secure, encrypted tunnel to a remote VPN server. It serves a crucial role in helping you safely upload any personal information, whether you’re browsing, shopping, or verifying your age.
Here are the main ways a VPN helps protect your privacy:
- Masks your IP: a VPN keeps data like your IP address private while you upload any personal details or documents. Connect to a server in your own country to avoid sharing your IP, which might show sensitive data like your approximate location or ISP;
- Encrypts your internet traffic: data shared online is scrambled in transit to a VPN server. This makes it harder for hackers or prying eyes on your network to access your private information while in transit;
- Secures public Wi-Fi use: if you upload anything from places like a café, hotel, or airport, a VPN keeps your connection secure. This helps stop others on the same network from intercepting whatever data you’re sharing;
- Ensures a private connection: by routing your traffic through a secure server, a VPN helps prevent third parties from injecting ads, trackers, or other changes on the pages you visit.
Many VPN services offer basic protection, but the best VPN providers also provide advanced security features. Leading tools like Surfshark VPN include unlimited connections, a strict no-logs policy, and a reliable kill switch that ensures you won’t accidentally expose unencrypted data, including your approximate location.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Surfshark’s service is provided to enhance your online privacy and secure your internet connection. It is not intended for, and must not be used to, engage in any illegal activities, commit fraud, or breach the Terms of Service of any third-party platform. You, the user, assume full responsibility for complying with all applicable laws and service agreements.
Safe age verification checklist
Online privacy is only as strong as your weakest link. Use this checklist for peace of mind every time you need to verify your age online:
- Use a trusted VPN: VPN usage encrypts your connection and ensures all sensitive uploads pass through a secure VPN server. Get increased overall security with a tool like Surfshark VPN.
- Verify HTTPS: only upload ID scans or payment details on sites that start with https://. The “s” marks secure, reliable connections where your information can’t be intercepted by others on the network.
- Be careful on public Wi-Fi: home networks are typically safer than those found in public places. If you need to use public Wi-Fi, keep your VPN active on all your devices to avoid uploading sensitive details without protection.
- Share only what’s required: don’t provide extra alternate documents or additional data beyond the basic age verification needs.
- Check validator reputation: research the third-party provider that’s handling your data. Well-known sites should list their providers and let you check their security features and privacy commitments before sharing any personal information.
- Request data deletion: once you’re verified, ask the website to delete your ID photos and other personal details after using the website for a reasonable amount of time. If other platforms you want to visit don’t use the same verification service, review the page’s data retention policy and request deletion of your private details.
Key takeaway: make a VPN part of your age verification toolkit
As more countries start to require age verification on certain websites, online privacy rights may be at risk. However, while different platforms figure out how to comply with new laws, you can still take steps to secure your personal data.
Remember, you have a right to keep your personal data secure — and a VPN is an excellent place to start for greater online privacy.
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What’s the safest way to upload ID verification online?
To maximize your safety when uploading ID documents, always use an HTTPS-secured website, connect to a reliable VPN, and avoid using public Wi-Fi. Encrypting your sensitive data, including photos and documents, provides greater protection during the uploading process.
Can age verification data be leaked?
Yes, verification records can be leaked if providers suffer a data breach or if your uploads get intercepted on unsecured networks. This is also true of passwords, email addresses, or any other sensitive information connected to your online accounts.
Why am I being asked to verify my age?
Many countries recently introduced age verification measures on certain websites to protect minors on the internet. In the UK, for example, the Online Safety Act requires several online services to restrict access to underage users.
