VRChat has introduced an age verification feature for its adult users who are subscribed to their paid plan, VRC+. This initiative, announced last November, is part of a collaboration with an organization called Persona. The process involves verifying a user’s age using government ID alongside a device equipped with a camera, like a phone or computer. This age check isn’t mandatory to use VRChat overall but is aimed at controlling access to certain areas created with the ‘Age Verification’ option.
This feature is now active for VRC+ members, accompanied by a detailed Q&A on its rollout. Here’s how it works: Persona handles the verification by assessing your government-issued ID against your likeness. While VRChat processes text extracted from your ID, it doesn’t receive images or facial scans. The extracted text, aside from your birth date, gets deleted and doesn’t linger on their servers. The birth date is used to create an irreversible hash that’s securely stored.
In an original announcement video, VRChat’s Senior Community Manager, Strasz, elaborated on this process. “We’re teaming up with several event organizers to trial age-verified events,” he explained. During this period, only specific group members will have the opportunity to apply for verification, and only these groups can restrict access to verified users. This limited approach helps them ensure any issues can be resolved early on.
Group Instance creators equipped with this feature can control access based on age verification. For instance, if a virtual bar wants to restrict access to users over 18, everyone would need to complete the Age Verification process. Once verified, users can freely enter any such designated areas thereafter, provided they meet the age criteria. Moreover, an optional badge indicating “Verified 18+” can be added to users’ profiles, highlighting their status.
VRChat believes this optional age verification will empower communities and users to customize their virtual experiences, fostering a more robust and secure environment for everyone involved.
Initially published on November 29, 2024, detailing the age verification’s announcement and testing phase, this article has been updated since the feature has now been officially released to VRChat+ subscribers, just two months later.
