Social media firms will use facial recognition age checks to keep under-age children off their platforms under plans by Ofcom. Tech firms could face fines under the Online Safety Act if they fail to protect children from harmful content. Ofcom research found many under-age children lie about their age to access social media. Companies are urged to use effective age verification methods like facial age estimation to protect children.
Key Points
Ofcom plans to require social media platforms to use highly accurate age checks to prevent under-age children from accessing harmful content
Tech firms could face significant fines under the Online Safety Act if they fail to protect children online
Research shows a significant number of under-age children lie about their age on social media platforms to access content
Pros
Protecting children from harmful content on social media
Encouraging tech companies to implement more stringent age verification measures
Potential to reduce the number of under-age children on social media platforms
Cons
Potential concerns about privacy and data protection with the use of facial recognition technology
Challenges in accurately verifying the age of users, especially with children who might not have official identification