TikTok Unveils Age-Detection Tech Amid European Regulations

TikTok is launching new age-detection technology in Europe to better manage accounts of users under 13. The system analyzes various data to flag underage users for moderator review. This initiative comes amidst increasing regulatory scrutiny on age verification by European authorities, emphasizing the need for privacy-preserving methods.

TikTok is set to introduce its new age-detection technology throughout Europe in the coming weeks. The move comes as the ByteDance-owned platform faces mounting pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to children under the age of 13.

The technology, which has undergone a year-long pilot in Europe, evaluates profile details, posted videos, and behavioral cues to predict if an account may belong to an underage user. Rather than implementing an automatic ban, TikTok's specialist moderators will review accounts flagged by the system.

As European authorities increase scrutiny over how digital platforms verify users' ages, there is a growing concern that existing methods are either inadequate or overly intrusive. The UK pilot led to the removal of numerous under-13 accounts. TikTok's new technology was developed with guidance from Ireland's Data Protection Commission to meet specific European regulatory demands.

(With inputs from agencies.)