TikTok is set to implement a fresh age-detection system across Europe in the upcoming weeks, as revealed by the company to Reuters on Friday. The initiative comes in response to regulatory demands for improved identification and removal of accounts owned by individuals under the age of 13.
After a year-long trial in the UK, the system, which scrutinizes profile details, uploaded videos, and user activities, is designed to forecast whether an account might belong to a minor. Rather than instant bans, accounts flagged by the technology will be subject to review by specialized moderators. TikTok reported that the pilot in the UK resulted in the elimination of numerous under-13 accounts.
This deployment coincides with mounting pressure from European authorities regarding how social media platforms validate users’ ages within the confines of stringent data protection regulations. The move aligns with global regulatory shifts, such as Australia’s prohibition of social media access for individuals under 16, and similar legislative initiatives in Denmark and the European Parliament.
In a separate development, a judge in Delaware, USA, is scheduled to consider TikTok’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the parents of five British children who allegedly died while participating in online challenges, as per Reuters. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok’s algorithms promoted hazardous content to underage users. A TikTok representative expressed condolences to the affected families and affirmed the company’s stance against content that promotes risky conduct.
To handle age verification challenges in Europe, TikTok will utilize various methods, including facial-age estimation by Yoti, credit card validations, and government identification checks. The company asserted that the new technology was specifically crafted to align with European regulations and collaborated with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission during the development phase.