Hi Guys,
As you know in the UK we now have to age verify for certain apps and webpages. This supposedly going forward will include Spotify, Wikipedia and other non adult webpages and apps. So, after looking into how we can do this I discovered that a lot of apps like Spotify will use an app called Yoti. I installed the app and you have to go through a 3 part process to complete. Part 1 and 2 went perfectly. Now, part 3 is where you have to take a picture and as many of us know getting your face in a small frame is almost impossible. The app itself seemed to realise I was using VoiceOver because UK Daniel suddenly popped up saying double tap anywhere on the screen for guidance. Great I thought. No, not, after 10 minutes gave up. You only get 4 attempts before you have to start part 3 again and roughly 95% of the time Daniel just says face not on camera or words to that affect. Occasionally, I got face to far right. So as anyone tried to register with any app or even this one and if so how in the world did you do it? Totally stumped and if this does come in for apps then we need a way of doing this. MODS put this here because this is to do with getting the app to work. If you think of a bettter ploace feel free to move it.
Comments
you have to essentially reach out to government and make a compl
I don’t know that there’s any other way to resolve this than to reach out to government and make a complaint. AI might figure this out. But for now, there’s really no way around it unless you get somebody to help you, which essentially obliterates your privacy.
in addition, this might actually be class action
A lot of people on this website jump to lawsuits. But in this case, we might actually have a worthwhile claim. We might have to go as far as to get a lawyer and sue the pants off of the government.(s). this might even eventually fall into a class action space.
Verifying
This is going to be a interesting topic. Some would want you to give a picture of your lisence or in the US state ID. Not doing so. My info would be all over.
This worries me
I really don't like the way this is going. If you do manage to complete this successfully somehow, does it then act as a key for everywhere or do you need to authenticate for each service?
For something like Spotify, I subscribe anyway so they have my card information. Does this count or do I still need to do this? I think one of the ways you can authenticate is by holding up a credit card?
This feels to me like the cookie warnings all over again but 10 times worse. What happens to my face once I've scanned it? Does it get stored on someone's server there? Is it handed over to ChatGPT for training?
I get why this is coming into force, and there are good intentions behind it I'm sure, but it feels like it is going to be hugely detrimental for most people.
Assuming it isn't going to be overturned, what I hope is that Apple can build something that works across my devices and once I've proved myself to Apple they can just pass an assurance onto other companies. I trust Apple to handle my data much more than I would some company I've never heard of.
Spotify
I was reading a little more about this in relation to Spotify. It sounds like they may use algorithms to decide if you need age verification at all, and then it's apparently only to access mature content. But if you fail the check your account can become deactivated and even deleted if you don't take action soon enough.
I'm still unsure as to where the line is. Is it anything with rude enough words that it can't be played on the radio? Or does it have to be more explicit than that?
I was certainly able to listen to some potty-mouthed lyrics from Mclusky without being hassled. So maybe that kind of thing is OK. Or maybe it's not rolled out everywhere yet. Or perhaps Premium subscribers get away without this.
I'd certainly be interested to hear from anyone that has had this forced upon them.
Similar issue at Amazon
In order to publish a book through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, you must verify your identity, and part of that process involves photographing your ID. I was unable to get through this process independently. Eventually my sighted spouse was able to help me through it, but it was a struggle even for her.
I contacted Amazon KDP support, told them I was blind, requested accessible accomodations, and was told sorry, this is the only way. I requested the issue to be escalated as it is a clear violation of the US ADA. Support thanked me and pledged to raise the issue internally, That was in May, and I haven't heard a peep since.
I believe it isn't a 1 resolution fits all.
I think that different services use different ways. So you may have to do this a number of times. Even worse is that I believe it isn't done once then forget. Everytime you access the services you have to verify. Ok once signed up this maybe not so hard but who knows. It is claimed that personal data/photo etc is not stored anywhere that can be hacked or accessed by 3rd parties. I've heard that before though so who knows. Mind if we can't sign up without sighted help anyway then we are being sidelined and as per the norm with stuff we may have been forgot. As I say the Yoti app does suggest someone had mentioned accessibility but I doubt anyone actually tried to sign up with VO turned on.
Re: repeating for the same service
I don't see how this can work if you have to repeat it every time you use a single service.
That is going to make a lot of what we take for granted now a pretty miserable process. I'll need to get ready a few hours in advance if I want to watch something on my TV that might have a bit of coarse language on it.
It feels to me like this could result in a boom to online piracy as people try to find ways round this. Already VPN downloads are going through the roof although that won't last long I'm sure.
This is making me very anxious. I guess some of this will come out in the wash, and it is early days.
mr grieves
There are already a third party app for it but it got hack and people still use it. Do not recall the name.