TikTok will soon begin implementing a new age verification technology for users in European Union countries. This decision is made in response to increasing demands to restrict access to the platform for youth under 16, according to information from the Kazinform agency.
The developed system, which has been tested over the past year as part of a pilot project in the EU, analyzes profile data, uploaded videos, and behavioral patterns to determine whether an account belongs to a user under 13 years old.
According to The Guardian, accounts that the system identifies as potentially problematic will be reviewed by moderators; however, blocking them is not planned. It is important to note that as a result of trials in the UK, many accounts were removed.
Representatives of TikTok stated that the new system was created to comply with EU regulatory requirements. In developing the technology, the company collaborated with the Irish Data Protection Commission, which is the main privacy regulator in Europe.
The European Parliament advocates for the introduction of age restrictions for social media users, while Denmark is pushing for a ban on social media use by individuals under 15 years old.
At the end of November, the European Parliament adopted a resolution prohibiting the use of social media for children under 16 years old.
