Spotify has warned users their accounts could be deleted if they fail new age verification checks introduced under the UK’s Online Safety Act. With nearly 700 million users, the streaming platform now requires some listeners to verify their age using Yoti, a facial scanning app. Those who appear underage must complete an ID check or risk being blocked from viewing adult-rated videos and having their account deleted within 90 days.

Spotify said users must meet minimum age requirements typically 13 years old and that failure to confirm age when prompted will result in deactivation. The checks apply especially when accessing music videos labelled 18+ by rights-holders.

These changes come amid wider enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires tech firms to restrict access to adult content, including pornography and graphic violence. Sites that fail to enforce these rules could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover.

Spotify has also come under scrutiny for previously hosting pornographic podcasts, despite a policy banning sexually explicit content. The new measures mirror those adopted by platforms like Pornhub, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). A petition to repeal the Act has reached over 420,000 signatures, but the UK government says it remains committed to full implementation. #keyangle #spotify