UK children circumvent AI age verification systems with simple tricks
An Internet Matters study found that about one-third of UK children bypass age verification systems using simple tricks including drawn facial hair and fake documentation, while systems designed to estimate age from facial recognition failed to detect these manipulations. The report found that 32% of children circumvent age controls, though most children and parents nonetheless support the protective measures mandated by the Online Safety Act 2023.
What happened
An Internet Matters study of 1,000 UK children found that approximately one-third of children bypass age verification systems deployed under the Online Safety Act 2023.
Children use simple tricks including drawing facial hair with eyebrow pencils, submitting false birth dates, using VPNs, inserting video game character images into camera feeds, and obtaining parental identity documents or adult photos from the internet to pass facial recognition age estimation systems.
Reported impact
The study found that 46% of children think age controls are easy to bypass and 32% of children admit to circumventing age verification. One quarter of parents acknowledged facilitating circumvention, with 17% actively helping and 9% deliberately overlooking it.
More than 90% of children surveyed supported the security measures and recognised their importance for mental health, while 49% reported experiencing online harm in the previous month.
Index analysis
Facial recognition age estimation systems were unable to distinguish between genuine facial features and drawings made with eyebrow pencils, indicating the systems misidentified age from manipulated or obstructed facial input.
Governance controls
The Online Safety Act 2023 mandates that digital platforms implement protective measures for young people, including facial scanning and official identity document verification. Internet Matters called on the UK government to strengthen enforcement of these requirements.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.