Grindr UK Implements Age Verification Requirements

Grindr UK Implements Age Verification Requirements

This week, we talked about the loss of BananaGuide.com and other sites due to age verification requirements in the US. Well, across the pond in the UK, age verification laws are also being implemented, and Grindr UK has now instituted an age verification system for all users. Could this happen in the US?

Starting this month, Grindr users in the UK will need to adhere to the platform's “age assurance” initiative. This is in response to the UK government’s Online Safety Act, passed in 2023. The Act was passed to protect youth from accessing material that is not age-appropriate. States in the US have also passed this kind of legislation.

Users of Grindr UK will have to upload a video selfie to verify their age. Users can also upload a video selfie holding up their ID. You have to be 18 or over in order to use the app. Current users will be instructed to upload it before using, and new users will need to verify when signing up for the app. It only needs to be conducted once. Can you imagine having to upload a copy of your ID? Opponents of such age verification laws say that this is an invasion of privacy.  Grindr has assured users that they are using an encrypted verification process and that data will be permanently deleted once a user's age is verified. We all know that sometimes security information can be leaked.

To roll out this verification process, Grindr has partnered with FaceTec. It uses biometric verification technology from the company, which independently manages all data processing to ensure a user's privacy is protected and access is restricted to adults.

While this is not being implemented in other countries as of yet, if you are visiting UK, you will have to go through their process before using Grindr. This system must have cost the platform a pretty penny. The costs of age verification in the US are so high that smaller and midsize adult sites have had to fold or be restricted in certain states. Pornhub has pulled out of a number of states due to the policy.

On their blog, Grindr states the bottom line: "This is a fast, one-time check that helps keep Grindr safe, secure, and for adults only. We’ll continue monitoring global standards and evolving our tools to prioritize user safety, privacy, and rights."

Will this be rolled out to the US? Who knows.

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.