Artificial Intelligence-led age verification processes debut on YouTube in the United States
YouTube, the popular video-sharing platform, is set to roll out an AI-based age verification system on August 13, 2020, in the United States. The system, designed to balance safety protections and teen privacy, is part of YouTube's commitment to comply with rising legal demands for more robust age verification to protect minors from harmful content.
According to James Beser, YouTube's director of product management, the platform is proud to lead in introducing technology that aims to strike this balance. The system works by analyzing multiple data signals, including account age, viewing patterns, search history, and user behavior such as purchases and Super Chats. If the AI model flags a user as a minor, YouTube automatically applies stricter content restrictions, disables personalized ads, and enables digital wellbeing tools like break reminders.
The initial testing will affect a small number of YouTube audiences in the US. If successful, the system will be expanded to a larger number of viewers. It's important to note that the system will only work when users are logged into their accounts. Users flagged as underage cannot access age-restricted content unless they verify their age through government ID, a credit card, or a selfie. Adults wrongly flagged can challenge the decision by verifying their age similarly.
The system replaces the prior "honor system" where users self-declared their age. Critics, however, raise concerns about user privacy implications. The AI's use of behavioral and account data for age estimation could potentially infringe on privacy and free speech rights, as it entrusts sensitive data to AI algorithms with limited transparency and oversight. Furthermore, requiring government ID or credit card details for age verification adds to data security risks and discomfort for some users.
Flagged minors experience limited access to sensitive or age-restricted content, disabled personalized advertising (only non-personalized ads served), enforcement of teen-focused defaults such as break reminders and limited binge-watching, and possible restrictions on content creators under 18, including limitations on live stream earning features and default privacy settings on uploads.
However, some effectiveness gaps remain, notably with shared devices or users watching signed-out. YouTube acknowledges that these factors could potentially circumvent the system.
The introduction of this AI-based age verification system is a response to political pressure on websites and social media platforms to introduce robust age verification systems to protect children from online abuse. In June 2020, the US Supreme Court upheld a Texas law that prevents minors from watching pornography online. Streaming giants such as YouTube have increased their efforts to protect minors from inappropriate content due to this pressure.
In summary, YouTube’s AI age verification is a data-driven, behavior-analyzing model designed to better restrict minors’ access to certain content and comply with evolving legal standards. While it enhances safety features for young users, it also provokes significant privacy concerns due to reliance on AI inference and personal data collection for verification processes.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-youtube-age-verification-idUSKCN25A294 [2] https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-will-use-ai-to-verify-your-age-and-block-inappropriate-content/ [3] https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-ai-age-verification-system/ [4] https://www.change.org/p/youtube-stop-the-new-age-verification-system [5] https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/18/21295550/youtube-ai-age-verification-system-explained-minors-pornography-restrictions
- YouTube's new AI-based age verification system, set to launch on August 13, 2020, in the US, is an effort by the platform to comply with increasing legal demands for more robust age verification to safeguard minors from harmful content.
- The system uses artificial intelligence to analyze multiple data signals, such as account age, viewing patterns, search history, and user behavior, to identify and restrict minors' access to inappropriate content.
- If the AI model determines a user is a minor, YouTube will apply stricter content restrictions, disable personalized ads, and enable digital wellbeing tools like break reminders to promote a healthier online experience.
- The system's privacy implications and potential infringement on free speech rights are a concern for some, as it relies on sensitive behavioral and account data for age estimation, with limited transparency and oversight of AI algorithms.
