As a direct result of the UK's Online Safety Act, Valve is now requiring all users in the United Kingdom to verify their age using a credit card. Yes, this includes accounts that have been in existence for 20 years.
"Ofcom’s guidance on the OSA states that one highly effective age assurance measure is credit card checks," Valve says. "This is because, in the UK, an individual must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a credit card, therefore credit card issuers are obliged to verify the age of an applicant before providing them with a credit card."
According to Valve, here's what users will need to do to make sure their account is compliant:
User process
What Is The UK's Online Safety Act And How Does It Effect Games?
Passed by the British Parliament in 2023, the Online Safety Act aims to regulate online content to prevent children from accessing content deemed harmful or illegal. Despite being passed two years ago, it's only now being enforced by the current government, though it comes with plenty of criticism.
The concern for many is that these laws and requirements are seen as shifting the responsibility to parents. Yes, protecting...
