X is deploying its xAI-powered system, Grok, to conduct age verification via in‑stream selfies, aiming to comply with the UK’s newly enforced Online Safety Act. This update comes as platforms are now legally required to block under‑18 users from accessing sensitive or adult content.
X’s Help Center explains that where automatic signals – such as past ID verification, account age, or public figure status – are unavailable, users will be prompted to submit a live selfie for AI-based age estimation or to provide a government-issued ID. Both options are processed internally using X’s systems rather than outsourcing to third-party providers.
However, the rollout has encountered challenges. Initial reports suggest that the age verification options appear inconsistently, sometimes hidden behind the X Premium subscription tier – a move that has prompted understandable frustration among users. Many are also concerned about the laws themselves, mainly because they do not describe exactly how data should be stored or processed.
Critics also highlight broader concerns about the privacy and efficacy of such verification methods. For example, users have reportedly bypassed authentication systems by submitting images of video game characters or using VPNs to mask location. One particularly funny example – using the realistic look of the main character Sam in the game Death Stranding to beat both image and video verification – has allowed some users to skirt verification simply through the real-world flaws in these AI-based checks.
