Reddit has begun verifying the ages of users in the UK, requiring photo ID or selfies to access NSFW subreddits and other restricted content. The change, effective from July 14, comes ahead of the UK’s Online Safety Act enforcement deadline on July 24.

To comply with the new law, Reddit has partnered with Persona, a third-party age verification provider. Users must upload either a selfie or a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license. Reddit says it won’t access or retain the image itself, and Persona “promises not to retain the picture for longer than seven days.”

This marks a shift for Reddit, which historically allowed open access to its platform. In a post on r/RedditSafety, the company stated, “It would be helpful for our safety efforts to be able to confirm whether you are a child or an adult.” Persona’s role is strictly limited to age verification, with Reddit confirming, “Reddit will not have access to the uploaded photo,” and “your birthdate is never visible to other users or advertisers.”

The UK’s Online Safety Act mandates robust age checks for platforms hosting adult material. Ofcom, the national regulator, said, “Now, children will be better protected from online material that’s not appropriate for them, while adults’ rights to access legal content are preserved.” Companies failing to comply could face fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue. Ofcom can also request that ISPs block access to non-compliant sites.

Despite Reddit’s assurances, privacy advocates have raised concerns. Scott Babwah Brennen from NYU’s Center on Technology Policy noted, “There’s always going to be concerns about who’s collecting personal or sensitive information.” David Greene from the Electronic Frontier Foundation called the law a “real tragedy,” adding, “UK users can no longer use the internet without having to provide their papers.”

Reddit’s age verification is currently UK-only, but the platform may introduce similar mechanisms elsewhere. Users who don’t pass the check will be blocked from viewing age-restricted content. As privacy concerns rise, VPNs may see increased usage for those looking to retain anonymity online or bypass geographic restrictions.