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Valve has recently implemented age verification for players accessing mature content on Steam in response to the UK Online Safety Act. Unlike platforms that use AI tools for age verification, such as YouTube, Valve has opted for a simpler method by requiring users to input their credit card details.
According to VGC, this process began last Friday. The support page explains that this approach was chosen because individuals must be 18 years old to have a credit card in their name, and it “preserves the maximum degree of user privacy.” Users who are already over 18 and have their own registered credit card on their Steam account would not notice any change.
Ofcom, the UK’s independent regulator for online safety, supports this approach. Their guidance states that credit card checks are an effective age assurance measure because credit card issuers must verify applicants’ ages before issuing cards. The verification process does not provide information about a user’s content preferences to payment providers or other third parties, as it processes identical data to that of millions of Steam users who make purchases or store their payment details for convenience.
Valve is one of several companies implementing age verification. Nexus Mods are still working out the details but have confirmed that age verification will be required. GTA Online has not yet confirmed its implementation but seems likely to follow suit, with these measures primarily impacting UK and EU users so far.
