UK Considers Age Ban for Second-Hand Selling Sites

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the United Kingdom is considering extending age verification requirements to non-social media platforms, specifically targeting second-hand selling services such as eBay, Vinted, and Depop. The proposed ban for users under 16 aims to stop the use of private messaging features for grooming and the solicitation of indecent photographs from minors in exchange for money or gifts.

This initiative expands the scope of a planned social media ban. Ofcom has indicated that adults may be required to provide photo identification to access these services, as facial scans are deemed insufficiently accurate for enforcement. Nandy stated that the government must be a very active interventionist state to police and regulate online spaces to ensure safety.

The move contributes to a broader trend of increasing digital ID requirements for various online services across the country. Nandy noted that any platform with private messaging can be used for harmful purposes.