YouTube’s selfie collection, AI age checks are concerning, privacy experts say

YouTube's new age verification system, which requires users to provide personal information like ID, credit card, or a selfie, has raised concerns among privacy experts. The system is designed to prevent minors from accessing age-restricted content, but the privacy advocates argue that it raises significant privacy and security risks. The concern is that the collection of such sensitive data by YouTube, which is owned by Google, could be vulnerable to data breaches or misuse. Additionally, the requirement for users to submit a selfie raises questions about the potential for the data to be used for facial recognition or other purposes without the user's knowledge or consent. Privacy experts have called for more transparency and accountability from YouTube regarding the storage and use of the collected data. They also suggest that the platform should explore alternative age verification methods that do not involve the collection of such sensitive personal information.