https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/25/discord-video-game-characters-age-verification-checks-uk-online-safety-act/ [p] * About Us * Advertise * Work with us * * * * * * * Login Register PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news * Latest * News + View all + UK + US + World + Health + Politics + Sport + Business * Culture + View all + TV + Film + Celebrity + Drag + Theatre + Music + Gaming * Lifestyle + View all + Beauty + Careers + Fashion + Relationships + Travel * Shopping + View all + Deals + Recommended + Fashion & Beauty + Tickets * Video + View all + News & Politics + Entertainment + Lifestyle * Discover + Trans Awareness Week + Drag Race + Explainers + The Queer Agenda Toggle menu * Account + Register + Login Science and Tech Users claim Discord's age verification test can be tricked with video game characters * Jul 25 * Written by Amelia Hansford * Share * Save for later * Comment * Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus. Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus. (Death Stranding) Discord's new age-verification tool may not be as rigorous as it seems, after users reportedly discovered it can be tricked using video game characters. The instant messaging and VoIP platform, commonly used for gaming, implemented an age-check tool earlier this month for UK users in anticipation of a new set of laws aimed at restricting potentially harmful content for under-18s. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, requires service providers that host user-generated content to implement age checks to ensure that children are protected from adult or otherwise inappropriate content. It allows the broadcast and online regulator, Ofcom, to fine website and app hosts that don't meet its age verification standards. Discord's age-checking tool requires that users complete an age-verification check, which requires them to provide either a picture of their face or ID, to access 'Not Safe for Work' (NSFW) channels, servers, or otherwise "adult" images and videos. You can use Death Stranding's photo mode to bypass Discord's age verification https://t.co/o9n0c0lwkI pic.twitter.com/mvYmhZZCVp -- Dany Sterkhov (@DanySterkhov) July 25, 2025 But, as one user discovered, the age-check tool can reportedly be fooled by using images of high-fidelity video game characters. In a viral X/Twitter post on Friday (25 July), a Discord user shared screenshots of their age-verification process, saying that because their phone hadn't updated the Discord mobile app, and their computer didn't have a webcam, they tried tricking it with a picture of the character Sam Porter Bridges from Death Stranding. The user claims to have used a picture of the character, played by Norman Reedus, to trick the age-check tool into believing it was them. The 2019 video game also comes with a picture mode, which allows the player to change Sam's facial expression, allowing the user to bypass a secondary check which requires a person to open and close their mouth to make sure they are a "real person." You may like to watch The Discord user then shared a screenshot suggesting that the age-verification tool had determined they were an adult and allowed them to access NSFW content. A kid sat on a bed on a laptop.Here's what to know about the UK Online Safety Act as it goes into effect. (Getty) Several groups have expressed concerns not only about the nature of the UK Online Safety Act, but also over how the law will be enforced by private organisations. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit specialising in "defending civil liberties in the digital world," said the legislation is a "dangerous attempt to remake the internet." "Instead of privacy, we will have age verification. Instead of security, we will have backdoors in end-to-end encryption. And instead of free speech, we will have scanning and filtering of all content, all the time." Others have expressed concerns that the Act could force smaller websites to cease operations in the UK or shut down entirely. Several websites have already shut down, citing the law as a direct reason for their closure. Following the enactment of the law on Friday (25 July), searches for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in the UK reportedly skyrocketed by 112 per cent. VPNs allow users to bypass regional-based restrictions by hiding a device's IP address and allowing to connect to another server, typically one overseas. Ofcom has said platforms must not host, share, or permit content encouraging the use of VPNs to bypass age checks, adding that parents should be aware of how VPNs can be used to bypass the Act. More: Discord UK Online Safety Act Matt Terry, Maren Morris, Jessica Gunning and Jinkx Monsoon. * Dec 31 2024 Every celebrity who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2024 How did this story make you feel? Fired up [?] Love Happy Meh Annoyed Sad Sending reaction... Thanks for your feedback! Please login or register to comment on this story. Queer News. Straight Up. The LGBTQ+ stories you don't want to miss, delivered to your inbox daily. Email address required [ ] Must be valid email Register By registering you agree to our Privacy Policy Thanks for registering! You can update your email subscriptions at any time in the My profile section of your account. Related articles A kid sat on a bed on a laptop. * UK * Jul 24 The UK Online Safety Act is here: What you need to know about the new age verification legislation A render of a woman in Cyberpunk 2077. * Gaming * Jul 02 Top video game modding website to put adult content behind age checks [3271209276_03103e10cc_o] * UK * Mar 12 2018 Age checks for watching online porn to be delayed Trending stories Top picks from PinkNews readers Andry Hernandez Romero has been reunited with his family and community in Venezuela. * World * Jul 24 'Entire town' welcomes back gay makeup artist after release from notorious El Salvador prison A still from South Park episode Sermon on the Mount featuring Donald Trump in bed with Satan * TV * Jul 24 South Park takes aim at Donald Trump with jaw-dropping NSFW depiction: 'He's going to lose his mind' Anti-trans campaigner Posey Parker has taken aim at trans ally Pedro Pascal (L). * Celebrity * Jul 25 Anti-trans activist Posie Parker's attack on Pedro Pascal backfires: 'Maybe you're the weirdo' Lauren Hemp, Jess Carter and Leah Williamson on the pitch in the England football kit. * Sport * Jun 09 These are the out LGBTQ+ England Lionesses at the Women's Euro 2025 Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus. * Science and Tech * Jul 25 Users claim Discord's age verification test can be tricked with video game characters Hulk Hogan in 1987. * Celebrity * Jul 24 Controversial wrestler Hulk Hogan has died, aged 71 Latest News Previous Next A crowd at London Trans Pride. * Pride * Jul 26 Tens of thousands protest UK transphobia as London Trans Pride returns Former MP Mhairi Black * UK * Jul 25 Trailblazing former MP Mhairi Black quits SNP citing the party's 'capitulation on trans rights' A composite image with England Team Captain Leah Williamson on the left and a TikToker on the right pretending to hold a microphone * Sport * Jul 25 Viral TikTok perfectly sums up the sexist 'trivial' questions England's Lionesses face in interviews Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus. * Science and Tech * Jul 25 Users claim Discord's age verification test can be tricked with video game characters Protestors holding signs that read "trans healthcare saves lives." * UK * Jul 25 New UK survey finds trans and non-binary people are facing severe 'hurdles' in accessing healthcare George Santos, pictured. * Crime * Jul 25 Disgraced gay ex-congressman George Santos bids farewell as he starts seven-year prison sentence A side by side image of Ellen DeGeneres giving a tour of her Cotswolds Farm Estate on the left, and some sheep in her property on the right * Celebrity * Jul 25 Ellen DeGeneres puts $30 million UK farm estate up for sale Beyonce fans, also known as the "BeyHive", queue in the rain for entry at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. * Music * Jul 25 Venue apologises after visually impaired Beyonce fan refused VIP entry and made to give up cane What to buy now Previous Next Dolly Parton * Tickets * Jun 25 Dolly Parton announces mini Las Vegas residency after wrapping her last tour almost a decade ago Graffiti and visual artist Keith Haring photographed with one of his paintings in April 1984. Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images. * Shopping * May 15 LEGO celebrates late gay icon Keith Haring with new art set: 'Want this so bad' Troye Sivan holds his chest as he performances at Primavera Sounds 2024 in a vest top. * Music * Apr 18 Primavera Sound's most iconic queer performances, from Troye Sivan to Ethel Cain Stevie Nicks * Tickets * Apr 15 Stevie Nicks announces 2025 North America tour: Dates, tickets and presale info Jonathan Van Ness * Tickets * Apr 03 Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness is bringing their Hot & Healed show to Australia and New Zealand Sabrina Carpenter * Tickets * Feb 28 Sabrina Carpenter announces more North American dates for Short n' Sweet Tour: 'It's even sweeter!' Jonathan Van Ness * Tickets * Jan 22 Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness announces Hot & Healed Tour: 'We need every healing strategy' Trisha Paytas * Tickets * Jan 17 Trisha Paytas announces US dates for The Eras of Trish Tour 2025 Exclusive Previous Next Wheelchair user on the move indoors. * UK * Jul 21 LGBTQ+ disabled community not consulted before 'devastating' government cuts Noah Lamanna is a star on the rise. (Getty/Canva) * Exclusive * Jul 16 From Ginny & Georgia to The Last of Us, Noah Lamanna is a non-binary star on the rise Alex-Thomas Smith on Too Much * Exclusive * Jul 15 Too Much star 'never felt out of place' on set of Lena Dunham Netflix series [Patsy-Stevenson] * Exclusive * Jul 14 Patsy Stevenson on re-allocating legal funds to trans cases: 'Women's and transgender rights are not mutually exclusive' An animated drag queen in a pink outfit and black corset with vivd pink makeup and a towering pink wig. * Exclusive * Jul 11 Drag Race stars feature in world's first animated drag superhero film: 'It's important to have queer people seen as heroes' Frankie Grande * Exclusive * Jul 10 Frankie Grande thought his life might 'end' before he found sobriety River Gallo smiles wearing a black and red jacket. They are superimposed onto an orange-pink background. * Exclusive * Jul 10 River Gallo on queer thriller Ponyboi and their 'magnetic connection' with Murray Bartlett Collage of Bryan Safi as Josh Russo in 9-1-1, shown by himself, with Maddie and with Sue. The background is rainbow colours. * Exclusive * Jul 10 9-1-1 star Bryan Safi on Josh's tragic love life and why he's 'all in' on a musical episode Register to save articles and more. It'll only take a minute and it's free. JOIN US TODAY! Already have an account? Log in here esc_html(__('Download the PinkNews app - Award winning LGBTQ+ journalism', 'pinknews')); ?> Download the PinkNews app Award winning LGBTQ+ journalism PinkNews Inform, Inspire, Empower About us Contact us Advertise Work for us Terms and conditions Privacy policy Privacy manager Privacy Manager * * * * * * *