- Twitch now asking UK users to complete a facial age verification scan
- The platform already has a minimum age (13+) to create an account.
- Verification is an added requirement to view content “harmful to minors”
Twitch has just started rolling out mandatory age verification for UK users. This marks one of the platform’s biggest compliance changes to date.
Viewers attempting to view adult or 18+ content, which includes categories such as sexual themes and intoxication, will be required to complete a facial scan. They will only be able to continue watching once they are confirmed to be 18 years or older.
Twitch already has a minimum age requirement to register on the platform. Users under 13 years of age cannot have an account. This new policy raises an additional layer of privacy concerns for users under 18 years of age.
The new policy is introduced as a way to comply with the UK Online Safety Act, which requires a large number of websites to carry out Mandatory age verification checks to grant access to content considered “harmful” to minors.
Similar measures have previously led to a spike in downloads of some of the best VPN services, with many privacy-conscious users turning to these tools to avoid sharing their sensitive data.
Age verification on Twitch: what changes for UK users
UK users will now need to complete a facial scan in order to watch certain content on Twitch. The Amazon-owned platform is partnering with a third-party provider, k-ID, to comply with UK security regulations.
You will be asked to verify your age, regardless of whether you are a new or existing user. The message will appear when creating a new account, logging in, and before viewing the type of content that requires age verification.
Access to the camera is required to complete the verification process. The Twitch Partner k-ID will scan your face to estimate your age. To pass the test successfully, you will need to be in a well-lit area and remove your cap.
Popular live streaming platform @Twitch plans to introduce facial scanning for age verification purposes in the UK, to allow its users to watch certain streams. Let’s hope they’re more careful than Discord to not leak anyone’s passports this time. pic.twitter.com/IdDY5F1TIpNovember 19, 2025
What are the privacy risks?
Twitch ensures that k-ID carries out the entire facial estimation process on your device and does not store your photos or videos. However, this change still raises some privacy concerns and many users are speaking out against it on platforms like X or Reddit.
Since implementation in July, experts have been warning about the risks that the UK’s age verification system poses to citizens’ privacy and security.
From facial scans to credit checks, Brits are being asked to share some of their most sensitive data with third-party services, in the hope that they will take good care of it. However, as the Discord hack has shown again, big data comes from big leaks.
These dangers have led to a dramatic increase in demand for VPN services in the UK. In the days after the age verification requirement went into effect, ProtonVPN reported a 1,400% increase in signups amid concerns over age verification rules.
Many Brits, however, also resorted to unsafe freebies to get the job done, but actually put their data at greater risk.
So if you’re looking for a way to protect your privacy on Twitch, I recommend getting only the best free VPNs, like Proton VPN Free. Please note that you will need to upgrade for greater usability. But, with Black Friday just a step away, now is the best time to do it…
