A new price of legislation The UK Online Safety Act 2023 came into power on Friday 25th July. Incidentally, searches for VPN providers spiked the same day.
The new UK Online Safety Act is fundamentally changing how online platforms, including Xbox, operate in the UK. This significant legislation, passed in October 2023, aims to make the internet safer, particularly for children. This is achieved by imposing new responsibilities on services that host user-generated content or allow user interaction. Don’t worry, we won’t be getting political or discussing the act in detail.
Xbox’s Response: Age Verification for UK Players
For UK gamers, especially those on Xbox who utilize social features like voice or text chat, these new age verification procedures are now being implemented. Xbox is proactively adapting its services to comply with the legislation.
Xbox is prompting UK players who have indicated their account age as 18 and over to complete a one-time age verification process. These players will receive notifications when they sign in to an Xbox experience using a Microsoft account.
Adults in the UK can begin the age verification process now on their mobile device by scanning the QR code, or by clicking this link: https://aka.ms/XboxUKAgeVerification
Players who prefer to verify via web can begin the process by signing into their Microsoft account at https://aka.ms/XboxUKAgeVerification.
Upcoming Requirements: Social Features and Verification
Looking ahead to early 2026, age verification will become a requirement for these UK players to retain full access to social features on Xbox. This includes voice or text communication, as well as game invites. Players who do not verify their age by early 2026 can still play games on Xbox. Users will only be able to use social features with friends after completing the age verification process. Notably, this verification will not affect any previous purchases. Nor any other game entitlements, gameplay history, or the ability to play and purchase games.
Secure Verification Methods
Xbox is offering several secure age verification methods. Proof of government-issued ID, age estimation technology, mobile provider checks, and credit card checks are all accepted. The information provided during this process is protected with industry-standard encryption. It is not stored or used for any other purpose, ensuring user privacy and security.
What do you think of the new legislation? Does it affect you enough to get a VPN to bypass this?
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As always, remember to follow us on our social media platforms (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook) to stay up-to-date with the latest news. This website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission when you click on these links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. We are an independent site, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
