Perhaps the new UK restrictions didn't allow for debit cards as opposed to credit cards.

Originally posted by ConcordiaVT:

Debit cards and credit cards hold the same personal data and prove the same things. By mandating credit instead of debit, you're effectively demanding that everyone take out some random loan and put themselves in debt just to "prove" their age when, again, a debit card proves it just as well and is precisely what I have used to verify my age on other platforms. Steam's unique non-acceptance of debit is illogical.

Just go here - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722903

Originally posted by ConcordiaVT:

Debit cards and credit cards hold the same personal data and prove the same things. By mandating credit instead of debit, you're effectively demanding that everyone take out some random loan and put themselves in debt just to "prove" their age when, again, a debit card proves it just as well and is precisely what I have used to verify my age on other platforms. Steam's unique non-acceptance of debit is illogical.

Take out a loan, for a credit card? That's not how applying for a card works.

They need to allow debit cards, driving licenses, government/military ID's or the Norman Reedus verification

They are just assuming everyone in the UK has a credit card when they don't. I'm an adult and have got through my life without needing a credit card and I sure as hell aren't going to my bank and telling them I want a credit card just to buy video games

One thing Valve really do need to do - use Steam profile age.

I've got a 21 year old Steam account, that's now locked for adult content. Other services are using age of account as a valid way of auditing for this purpose.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/age-checks-for-online-safety--what-you-need-to-know-as-a-user

And how will I prove my age?

There’s a number of methods a site or app might use to ask you to confirm your age. They might do this check themselves or use another company to do the check. These methods include:

Facial age estimation – you show your face via photo or video, and technology analyses it to estimate your age.

Open banking – you give permission for the age-check service to securely access information from your bank about whether you are over 18. The age-check service then confirms this with the site or app.

Digital identity services – these include digital identity wallets, which can securely store and share information which proves your age in a digital format.

Credit card age checks – you provide your credit card details and a payment processor checks if the card is valid. As you must be over 18 to obtain a credit card this shows you are over 18.

Email-based age estimation – you provide your email address, and technology analyses other online services where it has been used – such as banking or utility providers - to estimate your age.

Mobile network operator age checks – you give your permission for an age-check service to confirm whether or not your mobile phone number has age filters applied to it. If there are no restrictions, this confirms you are over 18.

Photo-ID matching – this is similar to a check when you show a document. For example, you upload an image of a document that shows your face and age, and an image of yourself at the same time – these are compared to confirm if the document is yours.

I don't see debit cards in that list.


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/age-assurance?url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/online-pornography

Methods not capable of being highly effective

Self-declaration of age

Age verification through online payment methods which do not require a user to be over 18 (Debit cards)

General contractual restrictions on the use of the service by children

Debit cards = not effective

FFS people... I don't even live in the UK and this took me all of about 2 minutes to find.

Originally posted by ConcordiaVT:

Debit cards and credit cards hold the same personal data and prove the same things. By mandating credit instead of debit, you're effectively demanding that everyone take out some random loan and put themselves in debt just to "prove" their age when, again, a debit card proves it just as well and is precisely what I have used to verify my age on other platforms. Steam's unique non-acceptance of debit is illogical.

A debit card does not prove you are 18+ because you can have a child bank account.

With Credit Cards the requirement to be able to apply and have one is 18+.

Okay, two things: First, a reiteration that *every platform I have had to verify my age with has accepted debit.* No internal written terms will erase the fact that Steam is unique in not accepting debit because, at least in my experience, every other service DOES.
Secondly, when I first opened my bank account, they expressly told me that they needed photo ID proof I was over 18 to do so and that I couldn't do it otherwise. I suppose that must have been a special case, the reasoning behind which I don't understand, but... yeah. I admit I could have done more due diligence to confirm that that wasn't the norm, but it was what my banking service told me.

Originally posted by Shemmie:

One thing Valve really do need to do - use Steam profile age.

I've got a 21 year old Steam account, that's now locked for adult content. Other services are using age of account as a valid way of auditing for this purpose.

Can you still play the games you own, or buy games with adulto content ? Or get inside the fórum of these games or games you dont own? This UK law looks insane.

Originally posted by ConcordiaVT:

Debit cards and credit cards hold the same personal data and prove the same things. .

No, they don't.

Children can have bank accounts. Anyone over the age of 11. So a debit card by itself only proves you are 11 or over.

However, only people who are 18 or over can have a credit card.

Don't forget that age verification is only for porn and is mainly aimed at children accidentally finding porn. It's not intended to stop anyone who is determined to find it.