Spotify will suspend accounts if users can’t verify their age

Spotify has begun requiring users in the UK to verify their age with official ID and a selfie.

Initially, a selfie will be enough, but if the system suspects the user is underage based on the photo, it will then ask for supporting documents.

If a user is unable to confirm their age, their account will be suspended.
Suspended accounts can be recovered within 90 days, but users will still need to pass the age verification process.
If the user fails to submit a selfie and ID within that period, the account will be permanently deleted.

These new rules primarily apply to "18+" content, Spotify won’t restrict accounts that only access content not requiring age verification.

However, users suspected of being under 13 — the minimum age allowed to use the platform — may have their accounts deleted entirely, according to The Independent. Spotify stated the following:

You cannot use Spotify if you don’t meet the minimum age requirements for the market you’re in,” the same help page reads. If you cannot confirm you’re old enough to use Spotify, your account will be deactivated and eventually deleted.

The verification process is managed by a third-party system that employs AI to estimate a user’s age based on a selfie and cross-references the data with official documents such as a passport, driver’s license, or any other approved form of identification.

In recent days, demand for VPN services in the UK has surged significantly, as many users report increasing difficulties accessing the internet as usual.

These developments are the result of new internet safety legislation, already informally referred to as the "British firewall." The stricter requirements implemented by Spotify are part of a broader set of compliance measures introduced under this law.