PlayStation account holders throughout the UK will have been receiving emails over the last few days informing them of upcoming changes to their accounts that Sony are introducing shortly to the PlayStation Network. In line with UK law, they will be forcing all registered users to verify their age going forward from June 2026 in order to continue using some online services offered by the PlayStation Network.
While this is not affecting online gaming at present, Sony have stated that it will impact on voice chat and the PlayStation messaging service. The majority of PS Vita games that did offer online play have had their servers taken offline, and of those very few had voice chat capabilities but all users were able to send messages to each other outside of the gaming environment so potentially this will still affect every active PS Vita owner.
Where the concern currently lies are the options being offered for Age Verification and how the information will be used. Users will be offered three ways to verify their age:
- Mobile Phone – You will be sent a text message with a code to the number registered on your account
- Facial ID – After uploading a photo, AI will be used to assess how old you look
- Photo ID – You will need to provide a photo of appropriate ID such as a passport, driving licence etc.
All of this is being operated by Yoti on behalf of Sony. While Sony claim that your information is safe and that any images uploaded will be deleted after checks are completed, there is a caveat on Yoti’s website regarding it’s usage:
Where Yoti has access to your information, we may share it in specific circumstances, such as:
- suspected or confirmed identity fraud or other offences;
- valid and legally binding requests for information from third parties;
- to verify your details with trusted third parties.
Yoti claims that they won’t sell on your personal data but the statement regarding “valid and legally binding requests” is somewhat vague and could be left open to interpretation.
Also, the issue regarding the use of Photo ID is a contentious one in the UK and caused concern when it was introduced as a requirement for voting in elections a couple of years ago. The reality is that not everyone has Photo ID – and more often than not is is marginalised members of society who fall into this category. Not everyone has a drivers license or a passport, nor has ever had a need for any other ID card.
In my own case, for example, I have never been able to drive because of a disability and I only have a passport (which expired five years ago) because I attended an event and I have only ever travelled outside of the UK once. Had that not taken place, I would never had obtained a passport. I also don’t drink and certainly look my age and wouldn’t have felt the need to obtain any other age-related ID. And I know I’m not the only one in this position.
While ID cards aren’t an unusual thing in many countries, these are government issued on a national level so everyone has one as standard. But when it’s something that you have to go out of your way to acquire so there are millions of people without one then forcing that as a requirement shouldn’t become a necessity.
Irrespective of all of that, we are being asked as users to provide Sony with personal information that could be used fraudulently without a 100% guarantee of its safety and that is something that we should all be concerned about.
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